Interested in reading biographies, especially of music legends? Lakshmi Devnath’s compact pictorial depiction of the life of Madurai Mani Iyer is being released this evening at the Narada Gana Sabha Hall. This is her third effort, after MS and GNB.
“Both were well-received and I’m happy I embarked on this project,” says Lakshmi, author of ‘Apoorva,’ children’s book that was a best seller. The comic-book style was in fact conceived to attract children. “Young music learners should also know about legends and their contribution. What better way than to give capsules in a visually tempting format?”
But execution was not easy. Right from finding an artist to publisher the journey has been a challenge. The latest venture was no different. “But it is satisfying,” says Lakshmi. “The life and work of a musician who was equally and universally loved as a human being should reach everyone.”
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The slim volume that comes with an autographed picture is absorbing for adult readers too. It is informative, the fluent narration making it a pleasure. Intense research and checks several times over make it an authentic account. “T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Iyer’s nephew and renowned vidwan, was a great help,” acknowledges Lakshmi. “He spent time to make sure the book had accurate details. It has nuggets, which you might not have heard earlier,” Lakshmi informs. She has a special word of thanks for the artist Ajay Krishnan.
‘Madurai Mani Iyer – The Joy of Song’, brought out with the support of Madurai Mani Iyer Centenary Fourm, will be released at a function, 5.30 p.m., by M. Balamuralikrishna and the first copy will be received by TVS. It is available at all leading book stores. Copies are available with Swati Soft Solutions (42316060).