MADRAS MUSIC MELA 2002
Interview with Mridangam Maestro Karaikudi Mani
I was eagerly awaiting the session with this maestro, who is one of the all-time great percussionists from South India. Interacting with senior musicians is always a valuable experience both from a student and musician's perspective. There is always a lot to gain from them. The revolutionary percussionist I am talking about is none other than the Laya Mani Sri. Karaikudi R Mani. Just by looking at him, I could feel that he has crossed several hurdles to reach where he is right now. A man full of determination. What do I call him? A spiritual mridangist, an innovator, Editor of a leading music magazine, or an organizer?
It was a rather informal chat, leading to the details of how he has carved a niche for himself in the field and stands as a shining example for other aspiring musicians, the various purposeful contributions a musician can make within his lifespan, his dreams for reinstating, preserving and maintaining the stature of percussive arts and so on. Here are some excerpts from our conversation...
Shashi: Namaskaram Sir.
Karaikudi Mani (KM): Please come.
(He addressed me with utmost dignity even though I am much younger to him both in age and stature. Definitely a quality that every musician must maintain throughout his/her career, I thought.)
Shashi: Sir, I would like to know what inspired you as a child and to take up music?
KM: The bondage between music and me existed right from childhood, I guess involuntarily. My father was a school teacher teaching various subjects, which also included music.
Shashi: Did you have a particular liking for mridangam even in your childhood?
KM: Not exactly! Music had an overall effect on me. During those times, my father introduced the concept having concerts to create an interest among school kids. Thus we got to hear several leading artistes like Ariyakudi, Alathur brothers in our town. The temple in our area also used to have Sampradaya Bhajans, Harikathas and concerts by local artistes. I was introduced to vocal music by my father himself and he made sure that I could sing all the Pancharatnas by the age of 5.
Shashi: Oh! It is really interesting that the steps took by your father to introduce and promote music in schools during those days has taken shape into a popular movement for music propagation which organizations like SPIC-MACAY, YACM and Carnatica and so on are carrying out today.
KM: Yes, he had a very keen interest in music and thought that children should be exposed to it at a very early age. He was also very keen that I should make a mark in music - he felt that I had some inborn talent.
I was somehow not very serious and didn't know the implications of a musical career at that age. My father put me on to a nearby mridangam guru, who was none other than Karaikudi Muthu Iyer. I however have to admit that I was not very regular about my mridangam classes then as there were other attractions near my guru’s home! For instance, the local children over there used to play Gilli Dhandu (a popular folk game), which drew my attention and kept me distracted. While my Guru would teach other children, I would be playing. However, my subconscious mind was still tuned to the lessons being taught to the other children. Since my father was keeping tabs on my progress, I had to play the lessons. My basic reflex helped me. Similarly, in my next class I had to play all the lessons in front of my guru. By God’s grace, I used to play everything perfectly. Even my guru was astonished by the fact that I could do so without attending his classes regularly.
Shashi: If I may ask you, did you learn mridangam more because of pressure from your father rather than your own interest? Was he particular about practise and imposed a certain amount of discipline in your life?
KM: I definitely believe that until a certain age, till a child understands the seriousness of life, parents' guidance is absolutely mandatory. As I mentioned earlier, my basic interest in music was there since I was exposed to it on a daily basis. By my guru’s grace, I was gifted with the natural talent, which came in handy. However, my father was particular that I had to practise and follow a particular discipline for which he gave me incentives. For example, if I ensured a certain amount of practise every week, we would give me 4 annas to watch a good movie, or he would take me to a hotel and get me a special dosa which was enough to pep me up for the whole week as a child. Soon, I started performing and was known as Master Mani.
Await the grooming of Master Mani in the next part of this interview!
Posted on November 18, 2002
