Banni Bai - Profile

BANNI BAI - MUSICAL DISCOURSE ARTISTE.............(b.1912)

Alamelu Manga Thayar, daughter of Doraisami became Banni Bai because of residence and contacts with marwari people. She has had training or special coaching with several experts like
Songs & kritis - Balu Pillai and Narayanaswami Ayyar
Abhinaya and mudras - Mahadeva Ayyar
English and Tamil - Swaminatha Ayyar
Marathi - Markandeya Brahmacharya

She learnt Kannada and Sanskrit also. She learnt kalakshepam art from Vijaya Bhagavathar and Kalyana Sastrigal. Banni Bai, gratefully remembers her guide and mentor, Bangalore Nagarathinamma, a respected lady who first constructed the Samadhi of Tyagaraja at Tiruvaiyaru. In recognition of the versatility, singing capability and scholarship of Nagarathinammal, she wrote her biography. Banni Bai follows the Tanjore method of rendering harikathas. She has had her programmes in the whole of India in hundreds.

Recognition came in the shape of Kalaimamani title from the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram, Chennai Sangeeth Natak Academy Award in 1987.

Has acted in the fil 'Sakku Bai. The 'Hindu', Madras stated that her clearly enunciated speech educates and regales the listeners with axioms and anecdotes ' and records that she is one of the most versatile practitioners of the art .