[1] Ramani was born in Tiruvarur,[1] a city in Tamil Nadu which is honored by its association with the Trinity of Carnatic music.

[2] Ramani first learnt music from his grandfather, Sri Aazhiyur Narayanaswami Iyer,[2] a well known flute artist and singer himself.

By the age of 11 years, his first concert was held at Singaravelavar Temple, Sikkil, near Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.

Sharaba Shastri has been characterised by his followers as a musical genius after experimenting and creating the Carnatic flute.

The Sharaba Shastri style or bani of playing was established and was carried on by his disciple Sanjeeva Rao.

He did so by studying the long bass flutes of the North Indian bansuri genius, Pannalal Ghosh which the latter had incorporated successfully in Hindustani concerts.

An interview with the Hindu The "Mali" bani encompassed facial expressions such as slight tilting of the head, varied movement of the lips which produced the vocal effect in the Carnatic never explored before by Sharaba Shastri or Palladam Sanjeeva Rao.