Manik Varma is considered the doyen of Hindustani classical Music from the Kirana Gharana, and most known for her devotional song, Amrutahuni Goad. She also excelled in semi-classical and light music like Thumri, Marathi Natya Sangeet, Bhavgeet and Bhakti geet (Devotional Music). She was a disciple of Hirabai Barodekar (daughter of Abdul Karim Khan) and Sureshbabu Mane (son of Abdul Karim Khan). She also had the benefit of additional training from Bholanath Bhatt, Inayat Khan and Jagannathbuwa Purohit.
She received the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 1974, followed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama in 1986.