Mani Krishnaswami

Her birth name was Mani Perundevi. Her father, LakshmiNarasimhachari, was the Secretary of Vellore Sangeetha Sabha. When Mani was six years of age, her mother Maragathavalli taught her to play violin. Mani's husband Krishnaswamy is an active arts promoter.[1]

Mani's first mentor in Carnatic music was a family musician friend named Gopaalachaari. She learned more than 500 songs while still a child. After completing secondary education she enrolled for the Sangeeta Siromani course in Kalakshetra at Adayar, Chennai (Chennai was called Madras then).
At Kalaakshetra she came under the influence of doyens like Rukmini Devi Arundale, Tiger Varadachariar and Papanasam Sivan.
She has the distinction of learning Carnatic music from five giants in the field who were also recipients of the coveted "Sangeetha Kalaanidhi" award. They are: Mysore Vasudevachar, Budalur Krishnamurthy Saastry,[2] Musiri Subramania Iyer, Tiger Varadaachaariar and Paapanaasam Sivan.
Mani Krishnaswamy followed the Musiri Tradition. She was a key figure in popularizing the works of Musiri Subramania Iyer.[1]

Legends Meet - Smt.M.S.Subbu Lakshmi & Smt.Mani Krishna Swamy.

She was chosen by the government of India and she performed music concerts in the Festival of India held in the then Soviet Union (1989) and in Germany (1991).
She has rendered numerous music concerts both within India and in many other countries. She was a visiting Faculty at San Francisco University for a short period.
Mani Krishnaswami was the Asthaana Vidhwan at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Soundarya Lahari rendered by Mani Krishnaswami is considered by carnatic music connoisseurs as a musical treasure.
She rendered Desikar's Achuta Satakam in the ancient Prakrit language and set it to music.
A well-known music critic Subbudu commended her voice as golden and mellifluous.[3]

Smt.Mani Krishna Swamy Padmashri Award from President K R Narayanan in 2002

• Sangeetha Choodamani, 1979 by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha[3]
• Kalaimamani, 1991 by Tamil Nadu State Government[3]
• Sangeetha Kalanidhi, 1992 by Madras Music Academy[4]
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1987 by Sangeet Natak Akademi[5]
• Padma Shri, (2002)[6]

Mani Krishnaswami died on 12 July 2002 due to cardiac arrest.[1]

• Shrimati Mani Krishnaswami - A Profile
• Mani Krishnaswami performs in Thyagaraja Aradhana (Chakkani raja) on YouTube
• Mani Krishnaswami Songs