Palghat C. R. Mani Iyer
There are a few art forms that survive for a short duration. This short life span can be attributed to the art form not finding favour with contemporaries, and, hence little interest shown by those of the next generation. Even those that did earn the commendation of fellow artists and admirers slide into oblivion with the passing away of stalwarts who were repositories of the art form. The passing away of Palghat C.R. Mani Iyer recently has pushed the art of playing on the seven-stringed violin, invented and perfected by the legendary Mysore T. Chowdaiah, to the verge of extinction.
MUSICAL LINEAGE - Palghat C. R. Mani Iyer, violinist, was a disciple of Mysore Chowdiah. He was trained on the seven stringed violin as well as the four stringed violin. His earlier gurus were his grandfather Annaswami Bhagavatar and then Palakkad Rama Bhagavatar. He was the elder brother of Mridangam Subba Iyer.
C.R. Mani Iyer started learning Carnatic vocal music under his grandfather Annaswamy Bhagavathar. He later trained under the renowned vocalist of the times, Gayaka Kesari Palghat Rama Bhagavathar. It was Rama Bhagavathar who advised C.R. Mani Iyer to learn playing on the violin.
As luck would have it, the young boy was noticed by T. Chowdaiah, who often visited Palghat for music concerts, and took him under his tutelage. For nearly a decade Mani Iyer underwent rigorous training in the gurukula system. Mani Iyer’s stay at Chowdaiah’s home was made memorable by the tender care and magnanimity of Chowdaiah. Chowdaiah’s affection and generosity were complemented with exacting sessions of practice. Mani Iyer’s association with great percussion maestros C.A. Subba Iyer (his paternal uncle), Palghat Mani Iyer and Palghat Raghu helped him develop a strong base of rhythm.
Mani Iyer was equally well-versed in playing on the four-stringed and the seven-stringed violin. The much-deserved break in his musical career came when he was forced to return to Palghat due to poor health and he came into contact with the ebullient singer Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. This led him to become a much-sought-after accompanist to leading vidwans of the day like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, Alathur Brothers, G.N. Balasubramaniam, Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, K.V. Narayanaswamy and a host of others spanning over three generations. He also gave solo performances on the violin. The violin trio concerts he played with R.K. Venkatramana Sastri and V. Sethuramaiah, disciples of Chowdaiah, are cherished by connoisseurs.
C.R. Mani Iyer had a brief stint as a staff artist with the All India Radio. But regulations hampered his concert commitments and he forsook a safe, salaried job for the risky career of an artist. He accompanied maestros of the era when Carnatic music was at its peak in prestigious concert halls like the Madras Music Academy, Rasika Ranjini Sabha, Indian Fine Arts Society etc. at Chennai, Shanmukhananda Sabha at Mumbai and many other venues known for their discerning audience. The Chowdaiah Memorial Award, Devi Prasadam Trust Award, Kalashri award of the Karnataka Sangitha Nritya Academy, felicitation by the Percussive Arts Centre during Chowdaiah’s birth centenary are some of the awards and honours that were bestowed on him.
He sailed through thick and thin. Personal tragedies added to his woes and he spent the last couple of decades of his life in anonymity. C.R. Mani Iyer is fondly remembered by music lovers for his deft handling of the violin while he gave melodious accompaniment that enhanced the richness of vocal music, and for the chaste music in his solo performances.
He belonged to the hallowed school of artists for whom pursuit of art
is a profound seeking. Where there is no place for self-promotion.
C.R. Mani Iyer started learning Carnatic vocal music under his grandfather Annaswamy Bhagavathar. He later trained under the renowned vocalist of the times, Gayaka Kesari Palghat Rama Bhagavathar. It was Rama Bhagavathar who advised C.R. Mani Iyer to learn playing on the violin.
As luck would have it, the young boy was noticed by T. Chowdaiah, who often visited Palghat for music concerts, and took him under his tutelage. For nearly a decade Mani Iyer underwent rigorous training in the gurukula system. Mani Iyer’s stay at Chowdaiah’s home was made memorable by the tender care and magnanimity of Chowdaiah. Chowdaiah’s affection and generosity were complemented with exacting sessions of practice. Mani Iyer’s association with great percussion maestros C.A. Subba Iyer (his paternal uncle), Palghat Mani Iyer and Palghat Raghu helped him develop a strong base of rhythm.
Mani Iyer was equally well-versed in playing on the four-stringed and the seven-stringed violin. The much-deserved break in his musical career came when he was forced to return to Palghat due to poor health and he came into contact with the ebullient singer Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. This led him to become a much-sought-after accompanist to leading vidwans of the day like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, Alathur Brothers, G.N. Balasubramaniam, Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, K.V. Narayanaswamy and a host of others spanning over three generations. He also gave solo performances on the violin. The violin trio concerts he played with R.K. Venkatramana Sastri and V. Sethuramaiah, disciples of Chowdaiah, are cherished by connoisseurs.
C.R. Mani Iyer had a brief stint as a staff artist with the All India Radio. But regulations hampered his concert commitments and he forsook a safe, salaried job for the risky career of an artist. He accompanied maestros of the era when Carnatic music was at its peak in prestigious concert halls like the Madras Music Academy, Rasika Ranjini Sabha, Indian Fine Arts Society etc. at Chennai, Shanmukhananda Sabha at Mumbai and many other venues known for their discerning audience. The Chowdaiah Memorial Award, Devi Prasadam Trust Award, Kalashri award of the Karnataka Sangitha Nritya Academy, felicitation by the Percussive Arts Centre during Chowdaiah’s birth centenary are some of the awards and honours that were bestowed on him.
He sailed through thick and thin. Personal tragedies added to his woes and he spent the last couple of decades of his life in anonymity. C.R. Mani Iyer is fondly remembered by music lovers for his deft handling of the violin while he gave melodious accompaniment that enhanced the richness of vocal music, and for the chaste music in his solo performances.
He belonged to the hallowed school of artists for whom pursuit of art
is a profound seeking. Where there is no place for self-promotion.
LIFE - He was born in 1915 and passed away in 2008 at the age of 93.
CONCERTS - He accompanied several prominent musicians including Mysore V. Ramaratnam at Bangalore Shankara Matt Sharada temple , Palakkad K,V. Narayanaswamy in the Madras Music Academy, Chembai, Semmangudi and many other stalwarts of the day. A music scholar, he was also invited to give lecture demonstrations in the Ayyanar college of music in Bangalore established by his Guru Chowdiah.
AWARDS AND HONOURS - In the year 1995, Palghat C.R. Mani Iyer was honoured with the Deviprasadam Trust award instituted by the Olappamanna Mana for his contribution to music.