Madurai Mani Remembrance day 8th Jan 2010!

[venu sundar]

VKV Sir has sent an invitation for the MMI day on the 8th Jan 2010 at the Raga Sudha Hall Luz and we thank him for the same.MMI was the only musician who gathered a lot of crowds during his time.MMI was a gentleman of values and was called as GANDHI by his very close friends circle.In Trichy a number of close friends of MMI used to gather for eveery Sri Rama Navami and concerts would be held during that time.Main one being of course MMIs The venue was named as MANI MANDAPAM.I happened to hear such concerts when I was a kid of 3 or 4 years and I can claim to have been born with the silver ear of listenning MMI right from my birth.I used to get angry if any one talks about music and do not mention MMI.I had picked of quarrels with a few critics who have written or spoken ill of MMI.MMi was the 'God of Music" for a bunch of our friends.While one friend used to cry in the concerts the other one used to be silent all through the concert and would not open his mouth at all though he was a man who used to be chatter box all the time. Another friend used to claim that he would never go to the doctor if he is affeected by fever but he would listen to MMi and his fever would be cured.We are all FANATICS and LUNATICS of MMI and we are very proud of the habit of listening to MMI only and almost at 24X7 basis and we used to enjoy every bit of the music of the immortal MMI the best on earth!
Incidentally I am the Proud SON of CHITTI a famed Tamil writer of MANIKKODI Era who was very closely associated with MMI for a very long time &he used to tell us a lot of MMI all the time.MMI was perhaps the only singer who refused to sing NIDHI CHALA SUGAMsince he thought that he was getting money for his singing and should not sing such a noble song!In fact MMI was never after money and used to go for any distance to sing and many a time without getting money.MMI was a legend and his KAPALI KOIL concerts were cricket matches of Sachin Tendulkar.We are all MADDYS of MMI!We thank VKV SIR for his ONE MAN ARMY promoting MMI even from USA>Let us all come to Raga Sudha on 8th to hear MMI!

[MaheshS]

My Grandpa [The late V Santhanam Iyer of Dinamani] used to talk about his association with Chitti a lot and his time with Manikkodi.

[venu sundar]

Believe it or not!On April 12th 2012 at 6-30PM the ARKAY HALL AT THE LUZ was overflowing with 300+rasikas of Madurai Mani Iyer 44 years after the death of the legendary musician and it was an emotional evening.The live concert was held during the RAMANAVAMI SERIES AT THE VENUS COLONY ALWARPET IN 1966 APRIL 12TH.MMI Birth Centenary Commitee organised the function to listen to the Master MAdurai Mani Iyer and the accompaniments were again the legendary Chowdiah on Violin and Palghat Mani Iyer on Mridangam and PMI 100 is also coinciding with the MMI 100!Sri Krishnan was on the Kanjira.MMI started off with Telsirama folllowed by RARA MINTIDAGA and APPA RAMA BHAKTI!Sarasa SAMA DANA was the main piece in Kapi narayaini and the concert included Entha Sowkiya Panile a Kapi ragam and incidentlaly MMI was a true good Coffee lover.MMI focussed on songs on LORD RAMA and it was MUSIC filled with BHAKTHI
all the way.The audience were the lucky lot and they responded very well and the hall was JAM PACKED TO SAY THE LEAST>ALL along 2and half hour concert all the fans of yesters of MMI PMI TS AND KRISH sat and stood in full attendance in spite of the fact it was Tamil New Year EVe and also CSK match was at the Chepauk on 12th evening.The organisation of the event was SIMPLY SUPERB one.Full credit goes to the parnership of the DUO S/S JAYARAMAKRISHNAN AND SLS AS HE IS known SLS NARASIMHAN for the FANTASTIC efforts.SLS was incharge of AUDIO and it was like MMI came down and treated us with his company of TS PMI AND KRISH.JRK SHOULD BEcomplimented for his silent and sincere work which brought out such great musical event.Arkay organisers did a fine job.KUDOS TO ALL