T. R. Mahalingam (flautist)

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T. R. Mahalingam (1926–1986) affectionately known as Mali, was a Carnatic music flautist.

[edit] History

Born in Tiruvidaimarudur, Mali started singing music from Jalra Gopala Ayyar, but rapidly switched to flute. Mali was the founder of the popular style of flute playing followed today by the carnatic flautists. Before Mali, the style of flute playing was called Sarabha Shastri style which did not have any gamakas and involved playing the flute in discrete bursts. Mali introduced the style of continuous flute playing with the gamakas and his style victored over the Sarabha Shastri style whose last follower died a few years back. The loss of Sarabha Shastri style is only an academic loss and Mali's style of playing remains to this day unparalled.