MahavidwAn Palghat Mani Iyer - the fingers that spell magic

What is it to listen to a Palghat Mani Iyer thani avartanam ?

- Firstly the naadham emanating from the right side is the ultimate bliss


- The weight on the left side and perfect balance that it provides with the right side naadham, is another Mani Iyer hallmark.


- Some thanis will be played keeping the sowkyam element totally intact ( and this is based on the mood of the song rendered and more importantly the way the instrument reacts, before the start of the thani ) - mridangam being a very sensitive instrument, it  reacts to the atmosphere around, and is bound to go out of tune/pitch and needs tuning, both on the right and left side.


- The thani for the Sri Gopalakrishna Bharatiyar song Chidambaram in begada is a classic example of the above point.


- Tuning of the instrument while playing the sarvalaghu nadai, is a trait that Sri Mani iyer has perfected.


- The kanda nadai especially the patterns of nines, played exclusively on the left side alone, is something beyond normal comprehension and only an exceptional musician like Sri Palghat Mani Iyer can perform.


- The joy which the artists on the stage and the audience derive listening to this thani, is superlative and beyond description in words.

This is an excerpt from Sri Ariyakudi RAmAnuja iyengars concert with Sri T N Krishnan on the violin and was held @ Tamil Isai Sangam, Madras.