Madurai Mani Iyer was undeniably one of the greatest exponents of Carnatic music with Divine voice had dominated the music stage for several decades. He was one of the most highly celebrated carnatic vocalists during the first half of the 20th century, was very famous for his unique style. In fact, it wouldn’t be out of place to declare him among the best musicians India has ever produced. Tales of overflowing audience held in trance during his concerts which often spilled over midnight. Madurai Mani Iyer was both a people’s and a pundit’s musician. There was never a dull moment from the word go in his concert! It was really a challenge for the accompanist to match his performance. His music could effortlessly sway a music scholar and a novice at the same time. In his time, he was largely responsible for bringing Carnatic music to the masses, and his ability to attract uninitiated listeners of Carnatic music is unsurpassed and remains undiminished, even 49 years after his demise.
Carnatic music ( Karnaṭaka sangitam ) is a system of music commonly associated with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Most Carnatic compositions are only in Telugu and Sanskrit. The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style.