Enduring symbol of a lasting bond between great music and fine food

At Dubash Agraharam in Mayiladuthurai stands a beauteous location that symbolises the enduring enslaved betwixt large euphony and good food. Believed to beryllium implicit a 100 years old, it retains its archetypal charm. A woody board, inactive preserved successful the house, bears the sanction of the erstwhile occupant successful Tamil and English: Gana Kaladhara ‘Madurai’ Mani Iyer. “When Mani Iyer decided to permission for Madras, helium chose to merchantability the house. When my father, T.N. Agoram Iyer, wished to bargain it, helium agreed to merchantability it to him for immoderate magnitude helium could afford, though determination were buyers acceptable to wage a higher price,” says A. Venkateswaran, lad of Agoram Iyer, who was a celebrated navigator successful Mayiladuthurai. Mr. Venkateswaran besides preserves the merchantability deed signed by Mani Iyer.

Special representation

The wide veranda wherever Mani Iyer used to sit, the adjoining country wherever helium practised for hours, the plaything helium favoured, the good successful the ‘muttram’ that supplied the household’s water, the aged instrumentality and switches, and an array of photographs each crook the timepiece backmost to the days erstwhile his euphony filled the house. There is besides a representation of Saint Thyagaraja, which utilized to beryllium carried during the Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru. Mani Iyer lived successful the location for 10 years aft leaving Madras successful 1939 pursuing the evacuation during the Second World War.

“Many musicians near the metropolis for Kumbakonam. Mani Iyer preferred Mayavaram, arsenic Mayiladuthurai was besides known, due to the fact that it had bid connections to some Madras and Madurai. He returned to Madras successful 1955 and sold the location to Agoram Iyer,” said instrumentalist Vishnu Ram Prasad, who had interacted with T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Mani Iyer’s nephew, and gathered galore details.

A nephew of the large instrumentalist ‘Madurai’ Pushpavanam Iyer, Mani Iyer came to Madras successful 1930 aft losing his father. “He had to enarthrosis the work of caring for his mother, 3 sisters, and his mother’s sister. His euphony made a heavy interaction connected K.V. Krishnaswami Iyer, an advocator and patron of music, who arranged for Mani Iyer and his parent to enactment successful his home. In those days, helium was known arsenic ‘Madurai’ Subramania Iyer. As determination was besides a violin vidwan with the aforesaid name, helium changed his sanction to ‘Madurai’ Mani Iyer in 1934. By then, helium had emerged arsenic an important fig successful Carnatic music,” Mr. Prasad said.

Writing astir 1 of his concerts, writer T. Janakiraman said it was beyond the outstanding and brilliant. “We person overused the connection ‘outstanding’, and it has go meaningless. But what connection tin picture Mani Iyer’s concert successful St. Mary’s Hall?” helium says.

Looking for opening

It was successful Mayiladuthurai that T.S. Vembu Iyer joined Mani Iyer as a imperishable accompanist and aboriginal became his brother-in-law, marrying Mani Iyer’s sister. It was successful Mayavaram that T.V. Sankaranarayanan — who, similar his uncle, would aboriginal person the Sangita Kalanidhi title — was born. The relationship betwixt Mani Iyer and Agoram Iyer, however, dates backmost to a clip erstwhile the budding instrumentalist was seeking an accidental to sing astatine the Thyagaraja Aradhana in Thiruvaiyaru. “My begetter was adjacent to Musiri Subramania Iyer, president of the Sri Thiagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha. He would instrumentality attraction of the arrangements, including food, for the musicians and rasikas. As my begetter liked Mani Iyer’s singing, helium recommended him to Musiri Subramania Iyer. Mani Iyer’s music attracted him arsenic well, and a enslaved was established betwixt the two,” says Mr. Venkateswaran.

Mr. Prasad said Mani Iyer decided to permission Mayavaram owing to wellness issues (neuritis). “The acquisition of Sankaranarayanan and his sister was besides a priority, truthful helium moved to Chennai successful 1955,” helium said.

When Agoram Iyer learnt that the location was to beryllium sold, helium approached Musiri Subramania Iyer. But Vembu Iyer had already been successful interaction with a purchaser who had quoted a higher price. “Musiri Subramania Iyer told Mani Iyer about my father’s interest. Mani Iyer immediately said it would beryllium fixed to my father. But my begetter had lone astir ₹17,000 and nary wealth for the registration fee. Mani Iyer even paid the registration fee,” recalls Mr. Venkateswaran. Photographs of Agoram Iyer, his woman A. Jagathambal, Musiri Subramania Iyer, and Mani Iyer present bent broadside by broadside connected the partition of the house, a testament to their large friendship. “Mani Iyer had a peculiar enslaved with Agoram Iyer. There were times erstwhile helium requested the large navigator to marque him capsicum ‘rasam’, and Agoram Iyer happily obliged,” said Mr. Prasad.

Mr. Venkateswaran says his household has preserved the location without immoderate large alteration. “We person lone raised the level of the ‘muttram’ to adhd much abstraction without disturbing the well, which remains afloat of water. We covered the verandah with a roof,” helium said.

Lalitharam, writer and historiographer of Carnatic music, says the merchantability of the location to Agoram Iyer shows that Mani Iyer valued the emotion and appreciation of his fans and friends supra each different recognitions and titles. “Though helium received honours, including the Sangita Kalanidhi of The Music Academy and the Isai Perarignar of the Tamil Isai Sangam, helium ever preferred to beryllium called Gana Kaladhara, a rubric conferred connected him by the rasikas of Thanjavur,” helium said.