Shri. Karaikudi R. Mani: Mridangam

Karaikudi R Mani is India's top ranking player of the mridangam, the popular South Indian drum. Mani who had his training under eminent teachers, has established a unique playing style which is marked by great virtuosity and pleasing sound quality. Mani, who has been described as a "mridangist who beautifully blended sound, scholarship, sense and silence", has composed and launched numerous intricate and erudite rhythmic combinations which have influenced and won acclaim from music lovers as well as from other musicians.

The quality of Mani's artistry has established beyond doubt the capacity of the mridangam to be presented as the main instrument in solo recitals. Mani who has accompanied all the eminent musicians in India, has travelled overseas widely and has a large following of students and admirers in Europe, the USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. Young mridangists trained by him have found acclaim in India and abroad.

Mani has made a distinctive contribution to the development of the art of percussion through the innovatively novel percussion ensembles he has devised entitled "Sruthi Laya" with top ranking artists. Mani's ensemble which has performed in many European cities and in the USSR, presents the percussion instruments with rhythm and melody in perfect unison.

Mani was also responsible for the formation of the musical orchestration of cultures called 'Melodyssey' consisting of 40 artists of Soth Indian, North Indian and Western instruments along with voices. This innovative orchestration won widespread appreciation. Mani has also introduced the Laya Ratna percussion duet concerts which have been performed in most of the leading forums in India. These concerts promote a greater understanding of the rythmic aspects of percussion. Mani's objective in the formation of yet another unique percussion ensemble of young artists, entitled Tala Vichitra ( Rhythmic peculiarities), has been the integration of various contemporary styles of South Indian Percussive art form.

Mani founded the institution Sruthi Laya Seva Trust in Madras and Mysore in India, and in Melbourne and London to impart systematic training in Mridangam for advanced students.

The Sruthi Laya Seva Trust now publishes the bi-monthly magazine Layamani Layam to promote awareness of contemporary developments in Karnatic music. Sruthi Laya has produced LP discs, Compact Discs and Cassettes for leading recording companies in India and abroad.