Mani Prasad
Encyclopedia
Pandit Mani Prasad is an India
n vocalist in the Hindustani classical
tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana
(school), he is renowned for his purity in the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajan
s and abhang
s). He is known to have made many new Raga
s and given new dimensions to existing ones under his collection, Dhyan Rang Piya.
, Pandit Sukhdev Prasad who had received his training in music from Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Panditji gained most of his training from his father and was also guided by his grandfather Pandit Shakti Lal and by his uncles Pandit Shankar Lal and Pandit Gopal Prasad.
Panditji gained his extensive knowledge by accompanying his father on all his tours and performances across the country. He moved from Wardha in Maharashtra to New Delhi
, in his youth along with his father.
.
He is a well recognised television artist with the Doordarshan
. He has performed extensively all across the world and has received much appreciation and respect everywhere.
He has not only created some new ragas but also composed many bandish
es in existing ragas with the mudra Dhyan Rang Piya. He is known to have composed the raga, Raga Vihanginee for the bhajan sung and popularised by Lata Mangeshkar
, Sunio Ji Araj in her film Lekin
.
Among his students are many renowned artists and personalities like Rita Ganguly, Savita Devi Maharaj daughter of legendary singer Siddheshwari Devi
, Maharaj Ranjit Sinh Gaekwad of Baroda, Pt. Ramesh Jule, Chandan Das, Nirmala Gopalakrishnan, Uma Garg among many others.
Some of the Ragas composed by panditji are Raga Dhyan Kalyan, Raga Dhyani Todi, Raga Vihanginee and Raga Bhoopeshwari. He is also credited to have written and composed various Bandish
es for many Ragas which are his great contributions not only to Indian Classical Music
but also to Indian Literature
.
Award, the Swarmani Award, the Raseshwar Award, the Baba Allaudin Khan Award, the Srimati Gangubai Hangal
Award, among many others.
. He has 3 children, Deepak Prasad, Lata Tandon and Lalit Prasad, who are also involved in the field of Indian Classical Music
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n vocalist in the Hindustani classical
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana
Kirana Gharana
Kirana Gharana is one of the most prolific Hindustani khyal gharanas.-History:The name of this school of music derives from Kirana or Kairana, a town and tehsil of Muzzafarnagar District in Uttar Pradesh...
(school), he is renowned for his purity in the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s and abhang
Abhang
Abhang or Abhanga is a form of devotional poetry sung in praise of the Hindu god Vitthala also known as Vithoba. Bhajans focus on the inward journey, abhangs are more exuberant expressions of the communitarian experience.-History:...
s). He is known to have made many new Raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
s and given new dimensions to existing ones under his collection, Dhyan Rang Piya.
Early life
Pt. Mani Prasad was born into a family of very respected musicians. His father was the renowned vocalist of Kirana GharanaKirana Gharana
Kirana Gharana is one of the most prolific Hindustani khyal gharanas.-History:The name of this school of music derives from Kirana or Kairana, a town and tehsil of Muzzafarnagar District in Uttar Pradesh...
, Pandit Sukhdev Prasad who had received his training in music from Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Panditji gained most of his training from his father and was also guided by his grandfather Pandit Shakti Lal and by his uncles Pandit Shankar Lal and Pandit Gopal Prasad.
Panditji gained his extensive knowledge by accompanying his father on all his tours and performances across the country. He moved from Wardha in Maharashtra to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, in his youth along with his father.
Career
Pt. Mani Prasad started his career early, being brought up in a musical family. He is ranked as a Topgrade artist by All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
.
He is a well recognised television artist with the Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
. He has performed extensively all across the world and has received much appreciation and respect everywhere.
He has not only created some new ragas but also composed many bandish
Bandish
Bandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
es in existing ragas with the mudra Dhyan Rang Piya. He is known to have composed the raga, Raga Vihanginee for the bhajan sung and popularised by Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, Sunio Ji Araj in her film Lekin
Lekin
Lekin is a Hindi drama film made in 1991, loosely based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, and directed by Hindi lyricist Gulzar...
.
Among his students are many renowned artists and personalities like Rita Ganguly, Savita Devi Maharaj daughter of legendary singer Siddheshwari Devi
Siddheshwari Devi
Siddheswari Devi was a Hindustani singer from Varanasi, India, known as Maa . Born in 1907, she lost her parents early and was brought up by her aunt, the noted singer Rajeshwari Devi.-Initiation into Music:...
, Maharaj Ranjit Sinh Gaekwad of Baroda, Pt. Ramesh Jule, Chandan Das, Nirmala Gopalakrishnan, Uma Garg among many others.
Some of the Ragas composed by panditji are Raga Dhyan Kalyan, Raga Dhyani Todi, Raga Vihanginee and Raga Bhoopeshwari. He is also credited to have written and composed various Bandish
Bandish
Bandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
es for many Ragas which are his great contributions not only to Indian Classical Music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
but also to Indian Literature
Indian literature
Indian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Republic of India has 22 officially recognized languages....
.
Honours and Awards
Panditji is the recipient of the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
Award, the Swarmani Award, the Raseshwar Award, the Baba Allaudin Khan Award, the Srimati Gangubai Hangal
Gangubai Hangal
Gangubai Hangal was an Indian singer of the khyal genre of Hindustani classical music, who was known for her deep and powerful voice. Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.-Early life:...
Award, among many others.
Personal life
Panditji now lives in New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. He has 3 children, Deepak Prasad, Lata Tandon and Lalit Prasad, who are also involved in the field of Indian Classical Music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
.