MANAKKAL S.
RANGARAJAN is one of today's senior-most
vidwans. He hails from a traditional musical family and his father was the
late Santhana Krishna Bhagavathar. He has been singing Sampradaya Sangeetham
for the past six decades and till singing strong with an evergreen voice. An
original incomparable Thri Sthayi specialist, he has a gifted ringing voice
that modulates with ease. He is an expert in brigas and a master of both
Vilamba and Drutha Kalas and is a specialist in Ragas and Pallavis.
He has performed all over the country and abroad and has been accompanied by
all veteran vidwans like Mysore T. Chowdiah, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai,
Palghat Mani Iyer and Palani Subramania Pillai.
Capable of singing in all ways, slow paced as
well as in electrifying speed, combining light as well as weight, both
difficult mathematical calculations as well as smooth Sarvalaghu patterns in
Swara Singing. He can challenge any Hindustani or Western Artist with his
voice culture and modulation and sing Apoorva ragas with the utmost ease.
Music critic Subbudu states in one of his reviews that if Manakkal had taken
to Hindustani or Western Music, he would have beaten all of them due to his
unique ringing voice and range. Interestingly, Subbudu has played the
Harmonium for him in the prestigious December Series of the Indian Fine arts
Society for Nandanar Charitram. Rangarajan has not missed a single year in
paying homage to Saint Thiagaraja in the historic festival at Thiruvaiyaru
for the past sixty years. He is the only senior-most musician at present,
who has sung in AIR Chennai since its inception. He has not repeated a
single song any time in AIR concerts till now!
Chowdiah had a special liking for the music of Manakkal
and frequently accompanied him and used to have thrilling competitions with
him. Rangarajan has the distinction of giving rare pallavi demonstrations at
the Music Academy using both hands for Thalam, comprising different Nadais.
Rangarajan is one of those rare musicians who has not compromised on the
principles and traditions at any time to gain popularity.
Interestingly, he is a vidwan who has given
concerts accompanied by his entire family!
Smt. Padma Rangarajan (Wife - Vocal Support), Smt. Banumathy Hariharan
(Daughter - Violin), Shri. Manakkal Sriram (Son - Mridangam),
Smt. Viji Sriram (Daughter-in-Law - Tambura)
Titles &
Awards
-
KALAIMAMANI -
Tamil Nadu State award.
-
GAYAKA SAMRAT
conferred by Indian Fine Arts Society Annual Conference in 1957
-
SANGEETHA SIMHAM
conferred by Sangita Kalanidhi Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.
-
UGADHI PURASKAR
award by the Madras Telugu Academy.
-
Award from
Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust in the year 1999.
-
NADAKANAL
award for expertise in Bharathiar’s Songs.
-
Honoured by PRIYA
VISION on the completion of 60 years service of the cause of music.
Felicitated by the doyen Sangita Kalanidhi Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
on the occasion.
-
Honoured by
NATAYANJALI on the completion of 61 years service to the cause of music.
-
GANA KALA RATHNA
-
GANA KALA SAGARA
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