One of South India’s most popular wedding caterers, Mountbatten Mani Iyer, passed away at the age of 92 on September 22. Mount Iyer as he was fondly called, took South Indian weddings by storm by creating tasty versions of familiar dishes. He specialised in cooking for massive gatherings and had a celebrated career spanning six decades.
Mani Iyer serving his guests at a sabha canteen in 2003| Photo Credit:The Hindu Born in Harikesanallur in Tirunelveli on October 24, 1932, H. Kulathumani Iyer, better known as Mani Iyer, arrived in Chennai, then Madras as a 20-year-old, where he apprenticed under DS Appaswami Iyer, who was an established cook and wedding caterer. After a few years, he established his own catering service, and worked relentlessly for over six decades until his son M Srinivasan took over.
Mani Iyer had been hospitalised for a week before he died due to multiple organ failure. He is survived by two sons, K Hari and K Srinivasan. .
Mani Iyer at the Sabha Canteen in 2003| Photo Credit:The Hindu How did he earn the moniker, Mountbatten? In 2003, he told The Hindu how, as a young cook, he had served Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India: “In 1948, Lord Mountbatten came to the Governer’s house and we made lunch. There was badam halwa, curd vadai and sambar saadam..
. he ate it and said ‘very nice food. South Indian food is very nice.
’ I’ve been called Mountbatten Mani ever since.” In an earlier interview published in The Hindu in 2016, he was quoted.