TRIPUNITHURA: Manku Thampuran, the Valiyamma Thampuran (seniormost female member of Kochi Royal Family) who passed away in the wee hours of Thursday, was passionate about
music.
When women members of the royal family were not allowed to give public performance, Manku Thampuran, who had learned music from the legendary Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, got a rare opportunity to present a live concert to be broadcast through All India Radio. She presented it at Palace No 4, the official residence of her uncle Rama Varma in the late 1930s
It was a time when the princesses of Kochi Royal family were not even allowed to mingle with ordinary students. But Manku Thampuran won over the Maharaja and started training in Carnatic music under Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, who was also a friend of the Kochi King.
Chembai used to present live recitals at Oottupura Malika for the Vrischikotsavam. “As per my uncle’s request he agreed to stay at the Chandravilasam Palace for two to three weeks to teach me the keertans. He spent two to three months annually and I learnt the intricacies of Carnatic music for 10 years,” she had told this reporter. Stalwarts like M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Mysore Chowdayya, Palakkad Mani Iyer and Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer held discussions in music at the palace. Once Chembai organised a unique vocal concert of Thampuran at the courtyard of the palace with Mysore Chowdayya on the violin and Palakkad Mani Iyer on the mridangam. This was a memorable event in which Manku Thampuran delineated the beauty of her favourite rag Sankarabharanam.
When the first Communist Ministry with EMS Namboothiripad as the Chief Minister came into existence in Kerala, Manku Thampuran became the first chairperson of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in 1957.
Thampuran got a chance to present a concert at Madras Music Academy where she received a thampura as a reward. Thampuran spent most of her time with the thampura. She also participated in Chembai Sangeetholsavam in Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple.
Manku Thampuran and Njeralathu Rama Pothuval were two favourite disciples of Chembai. While the music of Manku was rich in tonal beauty the music of Njeralath was enriched with serene devotion. Manku recalled the precious moments she shared with the mystic singer. “Pothuval came to see me after offering the Ashtapadi to Sree Poornathrayeeshan, and we spent hours recollecting the humourous remarks of Chembai,” she said
Like Njeralathu, Manku Thampuran leaves behind a handful of musical memories to posterity.