Guru Karaikudi Mani

Carnatic Musicians
espras
Posts: 56
Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 08:15

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by espras »

Many thanks Mahavishnu, for sharing RK’s Sriranjani and PVN’s Thodi with outstanding accompaniment by Guru KRM.

The spontaneous aha’s and bhesh’s that you hear in the background in the former are mostly, I presume, for KRM’s mridangam.

Could it be Mysore Nagaraj on the violin with PVN ?

It was a most gratifying Sunday brunch. Thanks again.


S. Prasanna.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Good guesses both. It was probably the clarity of the full bowing?
It is L. Subramaniam!

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

No wonder !!!
I can trust my instincts . it was LS not playing like the LS I know :p

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Question: LS shifted to an electric violin some years ago, and one finds some tracks of his accompanying SSI etc. with that violin full of reverb. Now this KVN piece, with such a low sruti and pitch/voice quality, seems to be in the electric violin LS era, but the violin is not the reverb types. So??????

Btw, Mahavishnu, both RK and KVN tracks are gems for the quality of mridangam sound capture. I thoroughly enjoyed both. Many thanks!!!!!

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

L Subramaniam's best accompanying gigs were in the late 1970s for SSI, KVN, MDR and even Seshu! L Subramaniam never made the full transition to the electric violin (his brother L Shankar did around 1979/80 for his album called Who's to know and others after that). L Sub did amplify his violin later in the '80s, but typically avoided any processing units when he performed as an accompanist, which pretty much stopped around then. I'm sure SSI would have said something caustic if he tried any tricks with him!

I heard a number of these performances when I was no more than a child at the MMA, but I still remember being blown away by them (both brothers). If you go to the MMA website (http://www.musicacademymadras.in/golden ... e_1979.php) and look at the brothers' accompanying record, you can see some absolute gems there. Madurai Somu with L Shankar and CSM in 1979 for e.g. How I wish I could get a recording of that! Varsha-ji, you don't by any chance have a recording of this, do you?

Back on the topic of this thread, another person that KRM really enjoyed accompanying was DKJ. Here is a brilliant Siva Siva ena rAdha with a very young GJR Krishnan on the violin! This recording is quite popular in the public domain, but I am just using this as an example to showcase KRM's explosive style and how his anticipation seems to even guide DKJ's manodharma in kalpana swara development.

https://soundcloud.com/ramesh-balasubra ... nthuvarali

CRama
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Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

Mahavishnu- I fully agree with your views on LS (both). I have got the concert of Somu-LS-CSM. The recording is not very good- but it is passable. I am keeping it because of the uniqueness. If you are interested, I will hear it again, try to improve a iittle and upload.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

CRama: would be much obliged if you can upload that concert... many thanks.

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Mahavishnu and CRama,
I give the link to SSI LS PMI Bhairavi swarajathi from the CD Evergreen Legends: http://snd.sc/184z30W
The reverb is evident. Obviously it was that 70s period. Could it be just the instrument? I wonder, since this KVN track has a low pitch but the violin sound matches that in the LP Devi Brova etc. released around 1984. Hence my question. That's all.

BTW the DKJ track is notable: very sedate raga Alapana, but a typical tempo for Shiva Shiva rendered with gusto. GJRK has done commendably. KRM's anticipation is stupendous, like the best I have heard from PMI, PRR and UKS. Thanks a lot, Mahavishnu!!!

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

How I wish I could get a recording of that! Varsha-ji, you don't by any chance have a recording of this, do you?
I have it.
Thanks CRama.If you have any problems I will upload

CRama
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Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

Thanks varsha. I request you to upload. If yours is better version than mine, I can also download. Hope you don't mind.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

I give the link to SSI LS PMI Bhairavi swarajathi from the CD Evergreen Legends: http://snd.sc/184z30W
The reverb is evident. Obviously it was that 70s period. Could it be just the instrument? I wonder, since this KVN track has a low pitch but the violin sound matches that in the LP Devi Brova etc. released around 1984. Hence my question. That's all.
RSachi, Very interesting point. I heard both this recording and matched it against the SSI evergreen legends one and the commercial KVN/PRR album (with Sripathe, Devi brova) and the violin indeed has a different tone. So, I agree with you. I am not certain if it is because of reverb, differences in the recording parameters or if it was just a different instrument. But I am sure it is not because of the shruti level. Perhaps Uday Shankar (who has dabbled in instruments and is also an LS afficionado) can add to this discussion, if he is reading this thread. Here we are only talking about Subramaniam and not Shankar. But I have digressed enough.

I just found an amazing KRM track with MDR that would be perfect for this thread. Will upload soon!

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Sripathe, thyagarajayogavaibhavam, devibrova..LP- vellore Ramabhadran's on the mridangam.

Give us more KRM! Simply love it.

varsha
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »


mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Thank you kindly! I look forward to a whole afternoon of listening to this. :ymparty:

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Glad to know that the album with Sripathe etc has VR on mridangam. There was a kuchi ring to it and I wondered if it was PRR from time to time (although I am told that PR does play a kuchi instrument in their 1967 release Dhyanam with VVS, recorded during his stint at Wesleyan).

Now, here is a brilliant MDR/LGJ/KRM circa 1973 @ Nadopasana. The track number 4 (ekkalathilum in natakurinji in an unusually fast kalapramanam from MDR, is to die for).
The full concert is here: https://archive.org/details/101VirboniVarnamBhairavi

From what I am told, KRM was very nervous about playing for MDR before this concert! And Lalgudi, who was like his older brother/mentor, advised him to just follow him and the beat of his foot and he would do just fine! And KRM rocks the house in the concert. And also please pay special attention MDR's composition in Begada. Seldom sung on the concert circuit these days, but what a beautiful kriti!

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Mahavishnu
I cannot thank you enough for sharing this, as so many other lovely recordings!!!
Obviously you are enjoying yourself on the west coast, all the best!
Sachi R

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

https://archive.org/details/03ParakuMad ... ndaraDasar
Yet another gem from KM - (and TRS ofcourse )

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Varsha: brilliant. I had never heard TRS with KRM before! Thank you.

RSachi: I am doing well. Thank you. Hope to meet you in December during the music season!

rajeshnat
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

His shruthilaya is a big organization , close to 1000 students have learnt from him. What always pains me is that he is playing one or two concerts a year , would be wonderful if he takes a decision to play more
BTW his website is http://www.karaikudirmani.com - an impessive website

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Rajesh, I wish he would play more as well. I spoke to KRM at the Asthika Samajam when I was in Chennai the last time and he said that between this anmeegam (spiritual activities), teaching and srutilaya responsibilities, he does not have as much time for the stage. He also said that he plays very selectively now. In the last few years I have only seen him accompany TMK (even that has come down to maybe 2-3 concerts a year), Hyd Brothers (even more rarely), Mysore Nagaraj/Manjunath, GJR Krishnan and a few tala vadya concerts. He played with Abhishek once in London to honour an old request by PRR. He played for Sanjay as recently at 2005-6, but not since then ...

His 2008/2009 academy concerts with TMK/Mysore Nagaraj were both spectacular though. So many music lovers had come just for the KRM/V Suresh combination!

KRM could be regarded a person whose biography would be hard to write. I was looking through KRM's performances from the MMA and his debut performance that I can see was 1964 for NC Soundaravalli, then Rukmini Rajagopalan (Sanjay's grand aunt and guru) in '65, for the LS trio in '66 and then became a regular for DKJ, DKP and later MSS.

Varsha-ji has some wonderful recordings of KRM with MSS in that period!

I think the period following this saw his rise to very peak. He battled a lot of demons in his personal life shortly after this phase. He has led a life of celibacy, austerity and great personal discipline ever since then.

One of the best commercially released recordings of KRM (worth it just for the mridanga nAdham) is this one from Charsur with Voleti garu and another rare performance by GJR Krishnan. What a gem! Both the hall acoustics and the recording are superb.
http://www.charsur.com/index.php/paddha ... 19240.html
RSachi, if you don't have this one already, I would highly highly recommend getting it.

I heard that this chamber concert organized by Smt Ritha Rajan and her husband at the Sittrarangam (small theatre, now defunct) in Madras as designed by the German musicologist Ludwig Pesch (more about it here: http://www.sunaadaradio.com/patrons/ras ... wig-pesch/)

Rsachi
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Mahavishnu and Rajesh and others,
Here is an absolute gem for me: http://bit.ly/BiranaBrovaMDRKRM

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

Mahavishnu
IN the last 10 years at chennai apart from TMK , i have seen an ad with hyderabad brothers and balasai(flute). Then from you i came to know about Abhishek with KM combo that happened at London . Few years back NSG was lucky , infact in the newspaper it was put for the first time NSG and KM are pairing together in Asthika samajam alwarpet. While he is really truthful to art and has moulded his life with principles , stilll it is our miss.

I was wondering from when he played , wow you gave me an answer . It was as early as 1964 with NC soundaravalli, by any chance has he played any kalyana kutcheris or mofussil kutcheris with GNB, MMI and maharajapuram Vishwanatha iyer . I am asking that as once I asked the same question to srimushnam sir for which he said he has played kalyana kuthcheri with MMI but not with GNB and when he said there was that immense joy.

BTW Can some body trace any KM combination with maharajapuram santhanam?

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Thank you, RSachi. MDR can do such amazing things with kalapramanam variations. Contrast that sedate version to this effervescent one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKCm8wBzTQg (starting at about 1:20).

Rajesh, To the best of my knowledge KRM has not accompanied MMI or GNB. I believe he said so in an interview a few years ago. There are some recordings of Santhanam with KRM. MVS has admitted to really enjoying KRM's accompaniment on more than one occasion. I will try to dig one up. Varsha-ji, probably has many more.

This KRM thread makes we wonder if perhaps we should revisit some other mridangist threads and share some good recordings of them having accompanied the greats of the last century.

CRama
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

I am having a few concerts MVS-MSG-KRM. I will upload if anybody is interested.

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

CRama: please do. Much obliged.

semmu86
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by semmu86 »

mahavishnu wrote:This KRM thread makes we wonder if perhaps we should revisit some other mridangist threads and share some good recordings of them having accompanied the greats of the last century.
A Capital suggestion!!!

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Great, Semmu! We'll start with you :D :-BD

rajeshnat
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

CRama wrote:I am having a few concerts MVS-MSG-KRM. I will upload if anybody is interested.
Crama
Please upload , gentle remainder

CRama
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Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

I am giving the links for a concert of Santhanam-MSG-Karakudi Mani. Please enjoy and give me your feedback.

01 - Begada Varnam - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (7.01MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/j6j7dg

02 - Abheeshta Varadha Sri-Hamsadhwani - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (10.30MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mxbr6h

03 - Ilalo - Atana - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (11.03MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sxr13u

04 - Sogasuga - Sriranjani - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (13.25MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/eix82g

05 - Narasimha Maamava-Arabhi - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (20.70MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/b5kcgq

06 - Saaramegani - Panthuvaraali - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (28.84MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zw94t3

07 - Naarada Guru Swamy - Darbhar - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (5.56MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/r8ijdf

08 - Vinanasakoni - Prathabhavaraali - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (4.14MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wx2e2j

09 - Evaroora - Mohanam - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (23.20MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7h8xtm

10 - Akilandeswari - Dwijavanthi - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (7.08MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ct2ir5

11 - RTP - Dharmavathy - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (34.80MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1wa0vx

12 - Neerajadala - Maandu - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (1.97MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1d8c4z

13 - Slokam - Ragamalikai - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (20.76MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/396og5

14 - Thillana - Dhanashree - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (4.28MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ckwj5s

15 - Mangalam - MS-MSG-KM.mp3 (667.07KB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/obwlc1

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Thank you. thank you!
CRama, do you know what year this was?

CRama
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

I do not know the year.
I have another concert - only first half though. I will upload that also soon.

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

CRama,
Went off to sleep last night listening to Sogasuga...
Thanks!

annamalai
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006, 07:01

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by annamalai »

I love Santhanam's rendition of Saramegani - Pantuvarali and Narada Guru Swamy (Durbar) - supposedly a masterpiece of Viswanatha Iyer.

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

https://archive.org/details/RTPKeeravaniLLGKMHSKGS83
Seems like yesterday .How green was my valley - Three decades ago !!! If only Time could stand still :-?

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Wonderful, Varsha-ji. This RTP captures this era so well. This period marked a very intense collaboration between LGJ and KRM.
Incidentally, the Santhanam concert that CRama uploaded made me dig this picture up!

Image

varsha
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

What a picture !!!! Thanks ,

CRama
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

Wow! I will upload more songs so that we will get many rare pics like this. Thanks Thanks.

semmu86
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 09:39

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by semmu86 »

Priceless photo Ramesh. The intimacy and beauty of Sastri Hall concerts remain unmatched.

Varsha-Ji :: That kIravANi RTP is just magic. I was lucky enough to catch the magical combo of Lalgudi-KRM-Harishankar couple of times in the late 90's, before the team split and the passing away of Harishankar.

cienu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by cienu »

Lovely picture Ramesh :)

CRama
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by CRama »

I am giving below the links for another concert of Santhanam-MSG-Karakudi Mani. Enjoy

01- kalyani varnam - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (5.86MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/v87qia

02 - Pavanathmaja- Nattai - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (14.12MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kvtdpo

03- Undedi Ramudu - Harikambodhi - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (13.81MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9yggy0

04 - Nannupalimpa - Mohanam - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (37.80MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7gg92t

05 - Ksheenamai - Mukhari - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (1.99MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/erygzp

06 - Nannuvidachi - Reethigowlai - MS-MSG-KM2.mp3 (7.13MB)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/yfci0c

I got only the first portion of this concert. If any body has got the entire concert kindly share.

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

Crama
All the numbers that you posted of KM santhanam i have them , i never knew that shri KM played . Thanks for taking your time , much appreciated.

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Thank you, CRama.

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

A pallavi sung by Sri KRM followed by a tani avartanam with the amazing Harishankar. circa 1990.
This one is a real gem. Must see!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayhkjvU0ubI

cienu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by cienu »

Thank you for the link Ramesh..

bombal
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by bombal »

have always admired KM's paatu gnaanam...heard the shanmukhapriya alaapana for sometime, it is very soothing..

god bless him and his tribe

carnaticfan1
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Joined: 14 Aug 2015, 21:36

Guru Karaikudi R. Mani

Post by carnaticfan1 »

Ahhh, the sheer genius that is Karaikudi Mani sir!

I have listened to just this song itself over 100 times, just because of Mani sir's accompaniment. He adds so much variety to the piece with his strokes, which are just so rich and powerful yet so soothing and melodious.

The krithi Lalgudi sir has so beautifully played (along with Sri GJR Krishnan) is 'Bagayanayya'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hLt_ZROVgE

This is from the 1987 Mylapore Fine Arts Concert, which (in my opinion) is the best violin-mridangam concert I have ever heard. KRM's accompaniment for LGJ is just unmatchable.

Man, I really really miss the Lalgudi sir and Mani sir concerts. Most famous (and arguably the greatest) violin-mridangam duo ever in Carnatic music.

And one cannot forget to mention the magnificent upapakkavadhyam accompaniment provided by the ghatam maestro, Sri Vikku Vinayakaram!

rajeshnat
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

For the last decade or two , Karaikudi Mani hardly plays for live concerts . There is just, few here and there , possibly those who have the higher commercial clout, engage him.

Write up of Karaikudi Mani that was a center page one . This is from the Friday Review of The Hindu dated 20th Sept,2019
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/ ... 458746.ece

shankarank
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by shankarank »

Sri Karaikudi Mani Sir's 75th birthday is being celebrated and here is a documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFhjb7YdE4

There was a discussion once with a student from karnataka (almost concert calibre) who was in Dallas about how the greats kept tALA. He mentioned that Mani Sir does with his eyes (eye lids or kaN imai rather!):

https://youtu.be/IsFhjb7YdE4?t=599

You can observe this, when he converts to khANDam ( tadhInta tadhInta tadhInta tadhInta takadhimi in 4 beats - 'I' with caps is a long syllable ) doing something like that!

In the same conversation, the student mentioned that Sri Palghat Raghu Sir does it with his cheeks and mentioned anecdotally, an observation of his about Raghu Sir having water frequently!

rajeshnat
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

Lot of rasikas especially those who have learnt Mrudangam go gA gA with Karaikudi Mani Sir .On the occasion of 75th birthday of Guru Karaikudi R Mani there was a new talam for 75 beats composed by Mannarkoil Balaji . This is a long taalam with different shift points . The Korvai was composed by Mani Sir and Balaji composed the mOra. While Balaji met Mani to seek his blessings on this ,another mohra was also given by Mani Sir which is also appended in the video . The mrudangam rendition is by Mannarkoil Balaji's disciple Charu Hariharan

https://youtu.be/UmlGHWyh9XM

Pranams to Karaikudi Mani Sir. Best wishes to vidwan balaji and upcoming vidushi Charu Hariharan

shankarank
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by shankarank »

https://ibb.co/Y84VQZL
SrI Guru Karaikudi Mani at almost the time of his debut with SrI Pitthukuli Murugadas.

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