Madurai Mani Iyer's 105th Birthday celebrations

[thanjavooran]

Madurai Mani Iyer's 105th Birthday celebrations on 23 10 2016
" Vivekanda Hall", P.S. High school, R.K. Mutt Road, Mylapore, Chennai.
Timings: 3.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

The function started at 15 45 hrs. Shri TK Murthy , Cleveland Sundaram and Kalidas were welcomed by Shri Viswanathan ? [ Brother of the writer Charukesi ?]
Invocation song was by Suryaprakash.
Mukkani pizhindu in Dhanyasi, Hamsanandhi and Sindubiravi in praise of Shri MMI.

Some of the interesting points are given below

Cleveland Sundaram

His association with TKM dates back to 1976 when he visited along with M Chandrasekharan and Bharathi and stayed with him for 1 1/2 months.
He is a born genius.
He can not fit into the following proverb
Netru Yaro, Inru Hero nalai zero as per TRS.
He used to play thalam on slate during school days breaking number of slates.
He was a student of Thanjavur Vaidhyanatha Iyer and adopted by him..
As a young boy of 12 he accompanied ARI on instructions by his guru Tj V.Iyer. V V S played Violin for this concert.
TKM and V V S accompanied MSS for more than 20 yrs from 1950 to 1970
Perfection in Art one can notice in his playing.
He deserves the honour of Mirudhanga Chakravarthi as he is playing for 80 yrs. He is now 92.
For 6 generations he has played mirudhangam from HMB to the present Sriram parthasarathi.
He volunteered to accompany GNB when other Vidwans were having reservations as he sang in a film.

Kalidas


His swara korvai was different and unique
TKM plays Pudukottai pani also though he was the direct disciple of T V Iyer
PSP was not initially impressed with MMI's singing. On advice from Chembai he started kanakku and vazhakku.
Madras Kannan and TKM both crossed 90 yrs were equal in vidwath.

TK Moorthy

Suswaram mens MMI and vice versa

In olden days there were two katchies celebrating S T's Aradhanai at Thiruvaiyaru.
Thanjavur Thambu samy brother of TMT played for MMI in periyakatchi
In that period vidwans can sing other than ST's kritis too
In Devakottai he accompanied MMI along with Chowdayya and Alangudi Ramachandran and the kritis in Prathapavarali, Suddasaveri , Shanmuka priya and Chalakabiravi were all excellently rendered.
HMB was invited by Thanjavur Abraham pandithar for a discussion on releasing a book regarding music and stayed there for one and half months.
TD Sankara Iyer [ A violin Vidwan of Thanjavur ] accompanied him along with TKM in a concert at the Pandithar Garden.
He had played more than 1000 concerts for MMI.
PSP used to enjoy Kandan Karunai puruiyum Vadivel of MMI
MMI will never talk ill of any vidwans and equally share the sanmanam offered to him with the accompanying artistes.
He will insist on travelling in Ist class along with other Artistes.

Listening session.

CD s of MMI played with appropriate photographs at the back drop.

Ma Janaki was the 1st to be played [ 1967 recording ] In the present day this kalapramanam cannot be found.
Manasu nilpa Abhogi an AIR recording
Nithya rupa in Darbar
Madhar pirai Kanniyanai an 78 RPM
Meru samana
Venkatachalapathe in Karnataka Kapi
RTP in Thodi with ragamalika swaram
Pkaivanukkarulvai in Bilahari
English note in sankarabaranam
Mangalam

My observation

There were 80 Rasikas all senior citizens barring very few. Cleveland spoke only about TKM and his association . Lalithram who conducted the listening sessions was requested a to bring out the biography of MMI also.
A grown up lad was present listening to the recordings of MMI though not mentally matured. This was mentioned by the organizer. The main force behind this function shri Sundar was not present as he was preoccupied with an important domestic function and Palani but was frequently getting the updated position of the function. TVS the direct disciple's [and the lineage] absence was conspicuous. It was mentioned that ARI wanted MMI to introduce sampoorna ragam reducing the vakra ragam in his menu in view of his ill health. An aged rasika [ 90+] recollected few interesting anecdotes of MMI. All were provided with High Tea before the commencement of the listening sessions. In total a very well organized function and all sat till the end. I would have omitted some important points [ lack of hearing power] and request for corrections.
Thanjavooran
24 10 2016

[arasi]

Thanjavooran,

Thank you. Your reporting on any event (the Perambur concerts, a prime example), brings us the details and ambience of a special day like this. Good to see that a number of forumites were part of it. Suryaprakash singing the invocation was apt. It will be nice to know the lyrics.

Hope others chime in as well...

[rajeshnat]

In Devakottai he accompanied MMI along with Chowdayya and Alangudi Ramachandran and the kritis in Prathapavarali, Suddasaveri , Shanmuka priya and Chalakabiravi were all excellently rendered.
....

He had played more than 1000 concerts for MMI.
...

He will insist on travelling in Ist class along with other Artistes.

What a great memory by TK Murthy. To recollect atleast 70 to 80 years back a concert inclusive of ragas is phenomenal memory?

Having said there is no way MMI and TKM played for 1000 concerts . I am pretty sure he would have said only 1000 and there is no slip. But this exaggeration in number is a very cultural thing that is part of all artists

I am assuming MMI will insist along with him even other artists should travel in 1st class . I am pretty sure he would not insist that he will only travel in first class.

Did Vishnu Ram prasad not talk , he only played the tapes ?

Thank you thanjoovaran .

[thanjavooran]

Arasi and Rajeshnat,
Thanks. As there was no formal introduction of the participants could not identify the guests. Elite forum members who attended the function may further clarify and share missed interesting points. There were discussions of Thi Ja Ra and his MogamuL novel.
Thanjavooran
26 10 2016