Subbudu, known for his stinging music reviews, had this to say about Manakkal Rangarajan, recipient of Music Academy's TTK award this year: “If only Manakkal Rangarajan had taken to Hindustani music, he would have had top billing. His voice is unusually un-South Indian with a sonorous timbre and extraordinary range. He can cover more than three and a half octaves without any effort.”
As a child, Rangarajan learnt music from his four elder brothers and also from his father, Santhanakrishna Bhagavatar, who was a Harikatha exponent. As for kritis, he learnt them without formal training from a guru! This is unheard of, one points out. “I used to listen to senior artists and evolved my own bhani,” says Rangarajan. Critics began to call it the ‘Manakkal bhani!'
His first concert in Madras was at the Jagannatha Bhakta Jana Sabha, Egmore. He was 15 years old at that time. For one who taught himself music and who wasn't from any recognised school in that field, Rangarajan had a surprisingly large circle of admirers - even among the music fraternity.
At the Jagannatha Bhakta Jana Sabha, Mali insisted on making a speech after Rangarajan's concert ended and presented him with a diamond ring. Mali volunteered to play at Rangarajan's wedding reception and did so for eight hours.
“In concerts organised in Suchindram, the audience would exceed a lakh, for all vidwans. Once I sang Thodi there and exceeded the time allotted to me. But TNR, who was scheduled to play after me, told the organisers not to stop me, for he liked my Thodi. That is one of the best compliments I have had.”
While every professional musician's reason to be grateful to music is because of the recognition it brings him, Rangarajan has an additional one. In his case, music also played cupid!
Music, the food of love
When Padma, daughter of Thumilan, editor of Ananda Vikatan , enrolled for a graduate degree in music, and needed some help with raga and swara singing, her father engaged Rangarajan to teach her. The young Padma promptly fell in love with him! “He would snap at me, if I wasn't quick on the uptake,” recalls Padma. “But I liked his discipline. And I loved his music.”
“As I travelled to college, I could hear him singing, when the bus stopped opposite his house on V.M. Street!” Padma says. When she broached the subject of marriage, she was asked by M.S. Subbulakshmi, a family friend, whether it bothered her that she was a graduate and Rangarajan was not. But all that mattered to Padma was Rangarajan's music.
DKP, yet another family friend, gave a kutcheri for Padma's seemandham.
But why didn't Padma become a concert singer herself? “Because I wouldn't allow her to sing in public,” says Rangarajan!
Why? “I was possessive. I didn't want anyone else to hear my wife's voice.”
But later he encouraged Padma to sing along with him, and even Subbudu said that her vocal support ‘embellished the recital.'
Among the many celebrities who liked Rangarajan's music were S.S. Vasan and MGR. Vasan, his wife Pattammal and daughter Lakshmi learnt music from Rangarajan's elder brother Nataraja Iyer, and occasionally from Rangarajan too.
In 1964, MGR requested Rangarajan to sing at the wedding reception of N.S. Krishnan's daughter. Since Rangarajan had a concert on that date, MGR postponed the reception!
Although he could also sing well in vilamba kala, Rangarajan showed a marked preference for fast paced singing. Didn't reviewers criticise him for his break-neck speed? “I liked it. My rasikas liked it too. Ultimately one sings to please rasikas, not critics!”
Other interests? “I was an avid M.K. Tyagaraja Bhagavatar fan. I myself acted in a play, ‘Nandanar,' staged by the Egmore Dramatic Society, at the Museum Theatre. I played the role of Nandanar, and Kalakkad Ramanarayana Iyer played the Brahmin.”
But Rangarajan turned down offers to act in more plays and films. “I wanted to remain focused on music.”
Rangarajan's son Sriram is a mridangam player, daughters Seetha and Bhanumathi play the veena and violin respectively. A documentary on Rangarajan is being produced by Padmanabha Iyer, a Sri Lankan Tamil settled in London.
Advice to youngsters? “Work hard and recognition will come to you,” says the veteran, chairperson of the music conference being conducted by the Indian Fine Arts Society. The organisation honoured him with the title, Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, at the inaugural function.
