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Gramophone Celebrities – 45
Prof. Mallikarjun Mansoor – (1910-1992)
Out of eighty-two years long life, Mallikarjun Mansoor was singing for over
seventy years. There is no tradition of writing autobiography among Indian
musicians. Hence we get few recordings but very little information on musicians.
Fortunately, his friends Mr. Krishnarao and P. L. Deshpande insisted and he
wrote his biography ‘Nanne Rasayatra’ in Kannada language. It consists of one
hundred pages of memoirs in very simple and lucid language written in an
informal style.
Mansoor began to act on Kannada stage with his elder brother at very young
age. In those days, young child prodigies with sweet voice used to be picked up
by theater owners. They would be placed as heroines or mob actors. He played
roles of Pralhad, Dhruvabal and Narad in stage shows based on mythological
themes. In one of the shows Nilkanthboa of Miraj was present and he persuaded
his brother to leave this field. Thus young Mallikarjun began to learn music
lessons from Nilkanthboa. Later on, he learnt from the sons of Alladiya Khan viz.
Manji Khan and Burjee Khan. These brothers were living in Kolhapur whereas
Mansoor used to travel from Dharwad to take music lessons. This continued till
he became forty years old. The bond was so strong that both the brothers and
their music haunted Mansoor. In his memoirs, Mansoor has written that even
after the death of these brothers, they would teach him in his dreams.
His music is one of the best male-expression of Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. He would
sing in a pleasing style that would enlighten him and his audience. After the age
of fifty years, he began to receive name fame and some wealth. Till then, his wife
managed his family against all odd situations. He used to live in a very simple
manner wearing white shirt, dhoti and a coat, a typical dress of a clerk. This
simplicity was also reflected in his singing.
Fortunately, he has recorded prolifically. He also gave several concerts and
programs on All India Radio. Around 1933, he cut records for the gramophone
company and for ‘Broadcast’ record company in Mumbai. This continued till
1950. In LP/EP era he recorded longer duration ragas. He has cut over forty
songs on 78 rpm format and these records were issued on HMV, The Twin and
Columbia labels. These are in Hindusthani, Marathi (Bhavgeete) and Kannada
languages. These records contain ragas – Durga, Kafi, Malhar, Adana, Des,
Bilaval, Chhayanat, Hameer, Shankara, Bheempalas, Sarang, Todi, Mand,
Basant, Multani, Khambavati, Bhairav Bahar, Nayaki Kanada, Lalita Gauri,
Jaijaiwanti, Bihagada, Yamani Bilawal etc. One can listen to his forceful music of
young age. 1933 catalogue has his photograph printed on front page in which he
is wearing a turban, a typical of male vocalists of that period. He used to sing in
Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai / Pune too. He has cut HT 18, a twelve-inch diameter
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