It is a pity that Carnatic music is losing many giant musicians and needless to say Karaikkudi Mani is one of those stalwart Mridangists who passed away just recently on May 4, 2023.
Even though he has not performed for CTU, my first exposure to his unique mridangam was in the year 1982-83 period. It was a concert by T.N. Seshagopalan with Lalgudi Jayaraman on violin and Karaikkudi Mani on Mridangam. It was a concert hall close to Habibulla Road in T. Nagar. It was the first time that I could notice how a rising star can be a true challenge to great veterans even with a popular composition like the popular kriti, Samaja Varagamana in Hindolam.
Karaikkudi Mani started his career as a young boy accompanying Pithukkuli Murugadas with his melody choked Bhajan sessions. Karaikkudi Mani has accompanied many of the legendary musicians of bygone days. He continued to accompany many leading vocalists of the current Carnatic scene.
He has lots of credits for experimental fusion attempts with many popular musicians across the globe.
In grief,
TES Raghavan