We are happy to bring you a recording of the concert by Vidwan T.V. Sankaranarayanan held in the Puttu Rao Memorial series in the Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore recently. The vidwan is a great favourite of Parvathi rasikas, with his effervescent style and the bani of the great Madurai Mani Iyer. The world celebrates Madurai Mani Iyer’s centenary throughout 2012. As this blog is also a tribute to the great rasika Sri Puttu Rao and his legacy at Parvathi, we think it is fitting that we begin the new year by giving a great concert fare from Vidwan TVS just on the eve of Sankranthi.
We would like to quote some fine words about Vidwan Mani Iyer from the Hindu:
We would like to quote some fine words about Vidwan Mani Iyer from the Hindu:
2002 Birth Anniversary
(http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501340900.htm)
" A vidwan with a unique style, Madurai Mani had indeed cast a spell on the listeners of Carnatic music, young and old, connoisseurs and even the rickshawallahs of those times. People came in hordes to listen to his singing. They sat on the walls, on the floors and wherever they could find a place to sit or stand. They did not mind the inconvenience. They only wanted to listen to Madura Mani as he was fondly called. Madurai Mani was certainly Madura (sweet) Mani.
His music was melodious. More than anything else, he enjoyed singing and that reflected in his personality both on and off stage. In fact he often eschewed lyrics that smacked of disillusionment with the world and other worldly matters. He firmly believed that music should enliven the listener. That was his conviction right from the start of his professional career as a musician, a joyous journey that began in 1924 at a temple Kumbhabishekam in the district of Ramanathapuram. He was 12 years old then. "
2011 Margazhi Season
(http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2754050.ece)
From the pen of Vidwan Ravikiran:
" The torch-bearer of the Madurai Mani Iyer bani, T.V. Sankaranarayanan reminisces about his uncle's incredible repertoire, memory and musicianship. “Mama taught me numerous songs that one would have rarely heard him sing at concerts — Idisamayamura (Chayanata), Sanatana (Phalamanjari), Evarunnaru (Malavashri), Paramatmudu (Vagadheeshwari), Samukhana nilva (Kokilavarali), Namoralagimpa (Devagandhari), Etavuna nerchitivo (Yadukulakambhodhi), Nadachi nadachi (Kharaharapriya), Ninnuvinaga (Poorvikalyani), Durusuga (Saveri)... I can go on and on,” he says.
“What is incredible is that he would not have revised these songs in 20 years but would access them from memory at will.”
This was augmented by the celebrated mridangam vidwan T.K. Murthy. “At a concert in Delhi, Mani Iyer sang outstandingly but a critic, known for his inconsistent and perverse reporting, had a dig at him the following day for singing his usual fare. Mani Iyer just smiled but in another concert the same day, his list consisted of pieces that even I — who had accompanied him for several years — had never heard him sing. The critic, who also made it to the concert, apologized profusely!” TVS adds: “His voice had just the right balance between delicateness and weight and his sense of gamakas was impeccable. And the way he could hold any note almost endlessly was mesmeric! It would create an all-permeating tranquility that had to be experienced to be believed.”
Anyone who has spoken to me about this distinguished musician has been unanimous in accrediting him as a human being of impeccable qualities. He was gentle, courteous, well-meaning, helpful to younger artistes, loving towards his disciples, committed to the art, and devoid of negativism even in jest. In short, as pitch-perfect in life as in music... "
THE CONCERT
Performed on Sept 4, 2011
T.V Shankaranarayanan ----- Vocal
Mahadevan (son of TVS) ---- Vocal support
M.S. Govindaswamy -------- Violin
C.Cheluvaraju --------------- Mridangam
M.A.Krishnamurthy ------- Ghatam
01 Maha Ganapate Namo- Hamsadwani- Indira Natesan*** 02 Orajupuju- Kannada Gaula – Thyagaraja *** 03 Appa Rama Bhakti- Pantuvarali- Thyagaraja *** 04 Ee Pariya Sobagava- Ragamalike – Purandaradasa *** 05 ManasuNilpaShakti- Abhogi – Thyagaraja *** 06 Smara Janaka Shubha Charita – Behag – Swathi Thirunal *** 07 Marakathavallim – Kambhoji – Muthuswami Dikshitar *** 08 Virtuttam – Bageshree, Tilang *** Rama Rama Rama Enniro-Tilang *** 09 EnglishNote- Shankaraabharana – Muthiah Bhagavathar *** 10 EppoVaruvaro- Jonpuri – Gopalakrishna Bharathi*** 11. Mangalam ***
