Mallikarjun Mansur । Kheyal Singer । Vocalist । Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana । North Indian Classical Music

Mallikarjun Mansur was a renowned Indian classical vocalist hailing from Karnataka, distinguished for his exceptional command of the khayal style within the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana (school of music). A luminary of Indian classical tradition, he was the recipient of three of India’s highest civilian honours — the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

Mallikarjun Mansur

Early Life and Background

Mallikarjun was born on 31 December 1910 in the village of Mansur, situated approximately five kilometres west of Dharwad, in the state of Karnataka. According to his biography, he was born on an Amavasya (new moon) day. His father, Bheemaraayappa, was the village headman and a farmer by profession, with a deep appreciation for music. The family included four sons and three daughters. His elder brother, Basavaraj, owned a theatre company, and at the tender age of nine, Mallikarjun performed a small role in one of its productions.

Recognising his son’s talent, Bheemaraayappa placed him with a travelling Yakshagana troupe — a form of traditional Kannada theatre. The troupe’s owner, captivated by the young boy’s melodious voice, encouraged him to sing various compositions during performances. It was during one such performance that Mallikarjun caught the attention of Appaya Swamy, under whom he received his initial training in Carnatic music.

Subsequently, he transitioned to Hindustani classical music under the guidance of Nilkanth Bua Alurmath of Miraj, a master of the Gwalior gharana. Alurmath later introduced him to the legendary Alladiya Khan (1855–1946), the then patriarch of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. At Alladiya Khan’s suggestion, Mallikarjun became a disciple of his elder son, Manji Khan. After Manji Khan’s untimely death, Mallikarjun continued his training under Manji’s younger brother, Bhurji Khan — whose influence proved to be most formative in shaping his mature vocal style.

Musical Career

Mallikarjun Mansur was celebrated for his command over a vast repertoire of rare and lesser-known (aprachalit) ragas, including Shuddh Nat, Asa Jogiya, Hem Nat, Lachchhasakh, Khat, Shivmat Bhairav, Kabir Bhairav, Bihari, Sampoorna Malkauns, Lajawanti, Adambari Kedar, Ek Nishad Bihagda, and Bahaduri Todi. His performances were marked by spontaneous and intricate improvisations, both melodic and rhythmic, while always preserving the emotional essence of the composition.

Though his early style bore a resemblance to Manji Khan and Narayanrao Vyas, over time he developed a distinctive approach and unique vocal signature. In addition to his career as a performer, Mansur also served as a music director with His Master’s Voice (HMV) and later as a music advisor at All India Radio, Dharwad.

Honours and Awards

Mallikarjun Mansur was the rare recipient of all three Padma awards:

• Padma Shri (1970)

• Padma Bhushan (1976)

• Padma Vibhushan (1992), India’s second-highest civilian award

In 1982, he was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour granted by India’s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Publications

Mansur authored his autobiography in Kannada, titled Nanna Rasayatre (ನನ್ನ ರಸಯಾತ್ರೆ), which has been translated into English as My Journey in Music by his son, Rajshekhar Mansur.

Personal Life

He was married to Gangamma, and together they had eight children — seven daughters and a son, Rajshekhar Mansur. Among his children, Rajshekhar and Neela Kodli went on to become vocalists, continuing his musical legacy.

In April 1992, Mansur survived a serious illness after being in a coma for two weeks. He passed away later that year on 12 September in Dharwad, due to complications related to breathing. He was accorded a state funeral.

Legacy

Mansur’s former residence, Mrutyunjaya, now serves as a museum dedicated to his memory. It is managed by the Dr. Mallikarjun Mansur National Memorial Trust, under the aegis of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka.

Each year, on 12 and 13 September, the Trust organises a National Concert to mark his death anniversary — featuring morning performances by artists from his musical lineage at the museum, followed by evening concerts by invited artists. Additionally, the Trust announces three annual awards on 31 December, in commemoration of his birth anniversary.

To honour his birth centenary, a three-day music festival was held from 1 to 3 January 2011 across Dharwad and Hubli, drawing musicians from all over India. His ancestral home in Mansur was also converted into a memorial.

In 2013, All India Radio released a special five-CD compilation entitled Akashvani Sangeet, which included rare recordings of his music, such as his renditions of Vachana Gayana. The launch event took place at Srijana Rangamandir on the Karnatak College campus in Dharwad.

In 1994, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Nandan Kudhyadi directed a documentary on Mansur’s life and music titled Rasayatra. The film received multiple honours at the National Film Awards, including Best Non-Feature Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

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