Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Raag Yaman, Vilambit Khyal

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur (Kannada:ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಮನ್ಸೂರ್, Devanagari:मल्लिकार्जुन मन्सूर) (1910-1992) was one of the greatest artists of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana of Hindustani Khayal singing.

Pt. Mansur's early training was under Pandit Nilkanth Bua of Miraj who belonged to the Gwalior Gharana. However, the most important influences on his singing were his gurus Manji Khan and Burji Khan who were the sons of Ustad Alladiya Khan, one of the most significant figures of 20th century Hindustani classical music. Pt. Mansur was well known for his command over a large number of rare (aprachalit) ragas such as Shuddh Nat, Asa Jogiya, Hem Nat, Lachchhasakh, Khat and Bahaduri Todi, as well as his constant, mercurial improvisations in both melody and metre without ever losing the emotional content of the song.

Pt. Mansur wrote an autobiographical book titled Nanna Rasayatre (ನನ್ನ ರಸಯಾತ್ರೆ) in Kannada, which has been translated into English as a book titled My Journey in Music by his son, Rajshekhar Mansur. Pt. Mansur is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards of India.

Pt. Mansur hailed from Dharwad in North Karnataka, which is home to other outstanding musicians like Bhimsen Joshi and Gangubai Hangal. His home in Dharwad has now been converted into a small museum in his memory.

Pt. Rajshekhar Mansur carries forward the tradition of Jaipur-Atrauli school. A retired Professor of English, Pt. Rajshekhar firmly holds that his role is to preserve the treasure of aprachalit ragas rather than create new ones. He currently lives in Bangalore.

http://www.dharwad.com/mmansur.html
http://www.omenad.net/page.php