Singer Mano launches platform for fans to showcase talent

When a couple, accompanied by their child, told playback singer Mano that his song Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham from the film Nayakan had played a pivotal role in their love story, it reaffirmed his belief that music has the power to create lifelong memories. This memorable interaction happened during an event he organised in the U.S., allowing fans to sing along with him.

“It is not a competition,” Mr. Mano said during a freewheeling interaction with The Hindu journalists. “The idea is to give ordinary music lovers, who may never otherwise get an opportunity to perform, a platform to sing.”

The event “Sing with Mano” will take place in Chennai in October, he said. Participants are encouraged to choose a song of their choice. Mr. Mano will then assess whether it suits their voice, guide them through rehearsals, and mentor them until they are ready for a performance with him.

Recalling another memorable interaction with fans, he spoke of meeting a group of bus drivers and conductors who told him they regularly listened to his songs while driving. “It is touching to see how music becomes a companion in people’s everyday lives,” he said.

Born as Nagoor Babu, the singer adopted the screen name “Mano” at the suggestion of music director Ilaiyaraaja, who felt there could be confusion because of another well-known singer Nagoor E.M. Hanifa.

Mr. Mano also recalled his childhood immersion in music. “My father and grandfather were both musicians. We were a family that staged mythological dramas. From a very young age, we visited places of worship of all faiths. By the time I was six or seven, I knew all the characters and the songs we performed,” he said.

To illustrate his grounding in classical music, he rendered a Telugu virutham. Mr. Mano trained under renowned Carnatic vocalist Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, whose tutelage laid the foundation for his musical journey.

In the film world, Mr. Mano credited his training in Carnatic music and his two-and-a-half year experience with Tamil composer M.S. Viswanathan for his early success. “Working with him (MSV), I learnt how to write notes. I learnt the different styles of taalam. All this was very useful as my musical career progressed,” said Mr. Mano, who also had a long-standing relationship with Telugu composer K. Chakravarthy.

Mr. Mano said recording his debut track for Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, Then Mozhi, from Solla Thudikuthu Manasu, remains one of his most vivid memories. “Raja sir taught me the ‘zha’ letter, which didn’t come to me naturally then,” said Mr. Mano, who went on to have a long musical journey with the Isaignani, which includes Enga Ooru Paatukaaran, a film in which he sang all the songs. “It was unforgettable. I’m not sure how many singers would have such an experience.”

During the conversation, Mr. Mano also addressed the comparisons that music lovers often drew between his voice and that of S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. “In a song in Jallikattu, both SPB and I sang together, and I remember Raja sir jokingly asking us who sang which line,” recalled the singer, who is also widely celebrated for his versatility across songs such as Sirpy’s Azhagiya Laila and A.R. Rahman’s Muqqabula.

“Singing in commercial films makes you go to a different zone. I grew up as a singer alongside the likes of SPB, Yesudas, and Malaysia Vasudevan – who were giants in the industry – and am grateful to the many composers who gave me opportunities in their projects,” he said.

Apart from his singing prowess, Mr. Mano also has a solid track record as a dubbing artiste – he has been the voice of several Rajinikanth films in Telugu. Currently, Mano is helming a mentorship programme to give aspiring singers stage opportunities, the Chennai leg of which is scheduled for September this year. “I have seen many ups and downs in life, and have realised that constant practice and passion are the route to success. The younger generation craves instant gratification and success, but I feel that the voice needs daily practice and rigour.”