He was a man deeply influenced by his humble roots- the songs of his childhood that he had heard sung by people around him soon became his trademark. The ‘naadanpattukal’ or local songs sung while sowing fields or harvesting grains took on a new lease of life when Kalabhavan Mani began performing them.
From an actor, he soon gained quite a following as a singer of these songs that invoked the smell of green fields and the farmers' sweat.
Mani, who began his acting career in the Siby Malayil directed Malayalam film "Aksharam" and proved his ability as serious actor in "Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum", where he played a blind street singer. Though he had a successful acting career, Mani never gave up on his first love, singing.
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