Pakkala Nilabadi - Karaharapriya

For a long time only half of Pakkala nilabadi was available among MMI devotees. The song would abruptly end in the middle of Swarams. When we had given up resigned to our fate, we got a break and this full version was aired at a FM station named Raga 24/7. How/ where it came from we have no idea but we can only thank them and the station for us finally having the full rendition of the Kriti.
Of the rendition itself what to say? Pakkala nilabadi has been sung by many different artists in many different ways, In pure Carnatic style, Western style, fusion etc but when Madurai Mani Iyer renders this Kriti, it immediately becomes the benchmark!! nothing else to say, enjoy!

[@tmadanmenon]

Yes..This is really a benchmark not just to propagate that MMI's unique rendition of Keerthans that entails appreciation, but to know the difference in the euphonious singing of this most famous keerthanam that enslave the audience ! Apart from the story of Ravana pleasing singing Lord Siva, there is another legend behind the Kharaharapriya-rragam stating that the said raga;s name denotes the killing of Khara demon (Khara - Khara demon, Hara - Defeater/Killer, Priya - Beloved) and by this reason the Saint Tyagaraja revived the ragam from getting extinct otherwise in 18th Century and gave a new lease of life with his wonderful compositions in this same raga. Of course all legendary singers thereafter were keen on singing keerthans in Kharaharariya , what ever be the reason, though Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri have not composed kritis in 'Kharaharapriya' Kharaharapriya became popular among film songs too ,especially semi-classical songs. The great M.S.Viswanathan rightly used this ragam ., let me mention here the song-"Maadhavi Ponmayilaal" in the movie Iru Malargal.

[@seshadri.j]

How a kacheri should be in coordination with vocal , violin and Mridangam is on display. At one point In kalpana Swara, combination of MMI and voilin making for 3.5 beats is real class

[@angaraian]

We are MMI devotees! what an apt description

[@venkataramanisrinivasan1058]

This is called " suswaram" madurai Mani Iyer. (" Madura) Mana Mani Iyer. What a suswaram? Great.

[@veekay2306]

A great find, upto that time, pakalla nilabadi by MMI was only the 10.11 min. Rendition on KZbin. Now we have the full rendition of 30 min +. A boon for all MMI fans

[@veekay2306]

You are right. MMI in any version, song, format, is just pure anandam

[@rsraman3273]

Immensely great full for uploading this great unique mellifluously rendering by this unparalleled BhishmaPithamagar Of Traditional Carnatic music. What a great “ Punyam “ one has done to listen this Gandharva Ghana’s with excellent accompaniment R. Seetharaman..74 yrs Mumbai.

[@786narayanan]

I accidentally started listening to Madurai Mani Iyer. His music is divine, he was gifted, and clearly head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Perhaps If he had lived longer, he would have got a Bharat Ratna.

[@ramasubramaniamsulur1906]

Great musicians of yester years. That era gone. Sad

[@selvarangambalasubramanufi7410]

Ramasubramaniam Sulur jjjnjjjhhhjj

[@sopanam1225]

Pranamam''''.....

[@anuradhavasudevan2602]

All together, singing, Voilinst and miruthangkam all in the same line excellent enjoyed.

[@venusundarrajan6514]

🙏🙏

[@raviramanathan3639]

காலத்தை வென்ற ஸ்ரீ மதுரை மணி அய்யர் அனைத்து இசைக் கலைஞர்களின் இருதயகுகையில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறார். அபூர்வ பிறவி.

[@r.rajindhirar5545]

இதய மாளிகையில் ரீங்காரமாய் இசைக்கிறார்

[@sinchronize]

Awesome.. Thank you!

[@rrajan5476]

When MMI sings, Goddess Saraswathi blesses by her presence. Naaradaa,Nandhi,Dhundhubi etc stay tuned.

[@ananthapadmanabhannarayana2289]

Splendid.

[@1970raghu]

Mesmerizing

[@rgk545]

Divine Singer

[@mpunnikrishnannamboothiri9091]

Super.

[@ganeshr66]

Delightful violin accompaniment.. Wonder who it is. TNK?

[@sriramnagaraj2148]

Dear Sir, it appears to be Sri Mayavaram Govindaraja Pillai. Sri Govindaraja Pillai has accompanied Sri Madurai Mani Iyer on numerous occasions, very mellifluous and flowing playing style and excellent complement to Sri MMI. His replies to Sri MMI rendition of Koluvai Unnade in Bhairavi and the RTP in Kharaharapriya with Pallavi "Maal Marugane Murugane" are gems!

[@veekay2306]

Actually I find more verve in the shorter version :) but wouldn't miss hearing the longer version

[@maduraimaniaiyer3014]

That version has better audio clarity for sure sir! but as you said who can miss the full length version, especially the clarity here at the Charanam!

[@pramodkeshav7314]

Can anyone please mention the accompanying artists? Thank you in advance!!

[@nnbhat1871]

Govinda Raja Pillai violin. Vellore Ramabhadran mridangam

[@anandasatya483]

மதுரை மணிஐயர், மதுரமணி. மாயூரம் கோவிந்தசாமிபிள்ளையும் வேலூர் ராமபத்ரனும் மதுரமான காப்பிக்கு பாலும் சக்கரையும் மாதிரி.... ஆகவே இந்த சக்கனிராஜா தினமும் கேட்கலாம்..போரடிக்காது...