Pt. Mani Prasadji, soubriquet being Dhyanrang Piya, enjoys the highest esteem among the Hindustani classical music connoisseurs. Though he originally hails from Rajasthan, was born at Wardha in Maharashtra in enviably rich musical atmosphere. His father, Late Pt. Sukhdev Prasadji, Guru of Pt. Deenanath Mangeshkar (Eminent Marathi stage artiste and father of Bharat Ratna Sushri. Lata Mangeshkar) was himself a renowned Ustad, well known for depth of knowledge, rigidity of Raag rules and matchless extempore exposition of Ragas. He was a noted stalwart of the Kirana Gharana.
Panditji's family is noted for a unique tradition, i.e., as soon as a child is born, a senior person croons a full octave of notes into the new born's ears. Thus, the talim commences at the very birth itself. In such a musically overwhelmed family, Pt. Mani Prasadji was groomed by his father and Uncles Pt. Shankarlal and Pt. Gopal Prasad.
Performed Extensively All Over The Globe and Has Done Many World Tours
Countries Like :-
- USA
- CANADA
- UNITED KINGDOM
- AUSTRALIA
- NEW ZEALAND
- RUSSIA
- UAE
- KASAKHSTAN
- NEPAL
- POLAND
- HOLAND
- GERMANY
- FRANCE
- ITALY
And so on...
Learning under Pt. Sukhdev Prasadji was very tough, as he was a very strict disciplinarian who demanded hardcore riyaz, sharp intellect and unshakable dedication. He hated mediocrity. The disciple was expected to be extra alert. Therefore while passing on his legacy, quality counted more rather than quantity. Credit of propagating the legacy of Kirana Gharana in Maharashtra undoubtedly goes to
Pt.Sukhdev Prasadji. Artiste of high stature such as
Pt. Nivruttibuva Sarnaik,
Pt. B. R. Deodhar and
Pt. Wamanrao Sadolikar has sought his guidance in respect of ragas and traditional bandishes.
In an uninformal talk with Pt. Mani Prasadji, a curious person understands that Pt. Mani Prasadji has a rich treasure of rare ragas, and equally rare bandishes and cheezes in the genres of Khayal, Thumari, Dadra, Tappa etc. He had rigorous training in badhat in aalap, intricate Merukhand Pattern in aalap, sargam and taan too & unimaginable electrifing powerfull taans. Due to his sadhana, he sings effortlessly in four octaves. He has firm grip over the Purab ang as well as the Punjabang of thumari.
- Swami Haridas Samaroh, Vrindavan.
- Tansen Samaroh, Gwalior.
- Sankatmochan Sangeet
Sammelan, Banaras.
- Sursingar Sansad, Mumbai.
He has also represented India's National heritage in Europe, USA, Africa, U.S.S.R. and Saudi Arabia.
The number of awards and honours bestowed on Panditji are innumerable.
TO NAME A FEW ARE:-
- Sangeet Natak Academy Award 2019
- National Award
- Rajasthan Sangeet Natak
Academy Award.
- Sangeet Martand.
- Pt. Puttaraj Gawai Samman.
- Baba Allauddin Award
- Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur Award.
- Dr. Gangubai Hangal Award.
- Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Award.
- Swar mani Award
- Raseshwar Award.
During the stay at Delhi Panditji showered knowledge of music on innumerable disciples, then in SaReGaMaPa Academy, Mumbai then Panditji moved to Dr. Gangubai Hangal Gurukul, Hubli (Karnataka) and presently Panditji is staying at Mumbai and engaged in training young aspirants of Hindustani Classical Music. Panditji gave his precious recordings to the archives of Sangeet Natak Akademi, ICCR, SRA, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the arts and many more. Panditji not only carved a niche as a performer, but he also contributed substantially by passing the legacy of Gharana oriented Hindustani Classical Music to HIs son's Pt. Deepak Prasad & Pt. Lalit Prasad and His Grandson Rahul Prasad Babbar along side his promising, deserving and devoted disciples.
TO NAME A FEW ARE :-
- Padma Vibhushan smt. Asha Bhosle Ji
- Hridaynath Mangeshkar Indian music director ‧ Lata Mangeshkar's brother
- Saraswati bai wife of Former President Of India V.V GIRI.
- Padma Shree Smt. Surinder Kaur
- Padma Shree Smt. Rita Ganguly,
- Playback Singer Tochi Raina
- Playback Singer Sanam Puri
- KING OF BARODA GUJRAT " Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Gaikwad
- KING OF KASHMIR "Raja Hari Singh
- FAMOUS PAKISTANI SINGER " RESHMA"
- GHAZAL SINGER Shri Chandan Das
- Shri Ramesh Jule
- EX DEAN OF DELHI UNIVERSITY Smt. Uma Garg •
- Shri Vishwanath Delhi
- Smt. Vaishnavi Hangal (Granddaughter of Dr. Gangubai Hangal) •
- Smt Nirmala Gopalakrishnan
- Smt. Gayatri Kaul Canada•
- Sant Satnam Singh, •
- Omprakash Nirwan •
- Smt. Shikha Ganguly
- Smt. Sucheta Bhattacharyaji •
- Sushri Anjali Gopalakrishnan •
- Shri Deepan Raj •
- Dr. Monika Soni
- Shri Aniruddha Deshpande .
The artistes like Pt. Mani Prasad ji are rare to be born. His nature to shun publicity, his spiritual bend of mind, his considering singing as worship of Goddess Saraswati, is a rare quality of an artiste. Guruji breathes music. His each breath musical. Each cell of his body consists of music. As a result of his engrossment in Riyaj, conpemplation and ceasless pondering, he has achieved a great depth rembition. Any award bestowed upon him will enhance the prestige of the award itself.
The authentic system of tutelage lent him the
outstanding brilliance through which he could look at the traditional music with an innovative approach. Under the soubriquet of Dhyanrang piya, he composed innumerable Bandishes.
His innovative creations are at the best in creating new ragas such as Dhyani Todi, Dhyan Kalyan, Bhupeshwari, Bhoomi Kalyan, SHIV KAUNS ETC. Pt. Mani Prasad ji was a child prodigy, as his very first stage performance was at the tender age of seven at Nagpur, where he was well appreciated by well known maestros of Maharashtra. Later he settled down at Delhi and continued his journey as a full time performing artiste. He has also opportunity to work as a staff artiste at Delhi Akashwani.
Following the footsteps of his father, he never compromised with a purity of raag and authenticity of chalan. That has resulted in to be respectably called as The Guru Gharana of Mangeshkar family. He has taught several cheezes to Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar, which have been sung even in movies.
Pt. Mani Prasad ji is a favourite artiste of Royal Baroda State's Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gaikwad, Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle, Padma Bhushan Pt. Gokulotsav Maharaj, Acharya Brihaspati. Pt. Mani Prasad ji highly appresiated by Ustad Ahmadjaan Thirakwa, Ustad Amir Khan and many more legends as a brite future of Hindustani Clasical Music.
Panditji is a Top Grade Artiste of Akashwani and Doordarshan as well. He has been a senate member of various prestigious organizations, Boards and committees.
Panditji stands out distinctly amidst the throng of musicians in one aspect, i.e., he has a spiritual bend of mind towards music. In today's world of commercialization he considers music as a path to reach the supreme soul. On one hand for propagation of classical music he does sing in concerts, but on other hand his attitude is to sing for the inner self, i.e., Swantasukhaay. Rigidity of rules that he follows is for the respect of his legacy of his Gharana. His intention of singing is always to propitiate Maa saraswati
Pt. Mani Prasadji has in several concerts thrilled the audience with his
mesmerizing performances across the globe. He has performed in almost all the prestigious music festivals, Sangeet Sammelans of Akashwani and National Programmes such as . singing classes online music academy learn to sing