The name KCP, the popular acronym of Karnataka College of Percussion, is synonymous with the musician couple, the founder, Mridangam maestro T.A.S. Mani and the exceptionally talented vocalist R.A. Ramamani. This premier music institution of Bengaluru is currently celebrating its Golden Jubilee, probably the first one of its kind to do so. The event bears testimony to the vision, perseverance and devotion of the two gurus who have together steered the institution to a pre-eminent position in the sphere of music education.
T.A.S. Mani has a tall stature among the leading mridangam maestros of the land. Having begun his concert career at the young age of 11, he has carved a niche for himself as an exemplary accompanist. The best musicians belonging to over three generations have sought his accompaniment in their concerts and have held him in high esteem. There is hardly a leading musician with whom he has not performed.
Belonging to an illustrious lineage of musicians, T.A.S. Mani has inherited his musical genes from his forefathers. His grand uncle Palghat Anantharama Bhagavathar was highly respected by his contemporaries and was honoured by the Maharaja of Mysore. Mani’s father Palghat Arunachala Bhagavathar and uncle Someswara Bhagavathar were popular and respected vocalists in their time. His guru, C.K. Ayyamani Iyer, a classmate and contemporary of the mridangam legend Palghat Mani Iyer, taught him with great sincerity and affection. He was inspired and encouraged by his sisters Jayam and Bhagyam, who were well-known for their vocal duet. T.A.S.Mani has attained an exalted position in the world of Carnatic music by virtue of some exemplary traits. He is a strict adherent of time-honoured values of hard work and rigorous practice, strict discipline, punctuality and perseverance, creativity and broad-mindedness, and respect for others. He is a shining example of these qualities.
As an accompanist par excellence, T.A.S. Mani has set lofty standards. He has endeared himself both to the musicians and to the listeners through his unobtrusive and highly supportive style of playing. His long years of unrelenting sadhana is evident from the effortless ease of his playing and the precision and clarity of his strokes. His deep understanding of each composition results in appealing
embellishment of the ideas of the main artiste. Mani adheres unwaveringly to the principle that the thani avarthanam in a concert is meant to be appropriate to the context, “short and sweet”, just long enough to engage the interest of the audience.
He was well aware of the fact that solo turns of the mridangam and other percussion instruments did not hold the same appeal with audiences in general as did music based on sahitya and swaras. T.A.S. Mani was determined to change this situation. Pleasantly surprised by the positive response of foreign audiences to the allure of Carnatic percussion, he decided to experiment with a new concert format comprising mainly the Tala Vadya instruments, and met with amazing success.
It is this rare insight that led to his ushering in an era of laya appreciation among audiences through his famed Tala Tarangini ensemble. He has ensured that this group provides opportunities for succeeding generations of his disciples to display their talent and gain experience of concert performance.
He is also recognised as a pioneer in the realm of fusion between Carnatic music and jazz. T.A.S. Mani and Ramamani have made a monumental contribution in putting Carnatic music on the world map through their exploits in the arena of World Music. They have been great ambassadors of our culture, having represented the country in several editions of the Festival of India in a host of countries.
Sri T.A.S.Mani has trained an very capable concert performers over the last fifty years. This undoubtedly ranks as one of his biggest achievements. His disciples have, in turn, gone on to train following generations of students and helped to propagate the art.
The Golden Jubilee of the KCP is the ultimate prize for the long years of service of T.A.S. Mani and Ramamani to the cause of music.
They are justifiably elated as are the scores of students who are keen to make the occasion the event of a lifetime. The celebrations include festivals spread over the whole year and featuring both senior and upcoming artistes.
Karnataka College of Percussion presents Spring Festival, held as part of the institute’s golden jubilee celebrations, from February 1 to February 9. There will be felicitation ceremonies and concerts during the eight days. On February 1, the book “T.A.S.Mani - A Lifetime of Laya” will be released. The festival will be held at Seva Sadan, 14 cross Malleswaram, Bengaluru. For details, call 080 23441515
