THE PAST - INSTRUMENTALISTS
Palani SubramanYam Pillai
Another of the mridangam legends, Subramanyam Pillai had his lessons from his father Palani Muthaiah Pillai and to some extent from Pudukottai Dakshinamurti Pillai. But he was essentially a self-made man. He inherited the brilliance of Pudukottai Manpoondia Pillai, who raised the status of Khanjira to a concert-worthy grade. His style involved highly complex rhythmic matrices executed in an effortless manner. A highly cultured and dignified musician, he was made the Asthana Vidwan (court musician) of Travancore and also served as a Professor in Tamil Isai College and the advisor of All India Radio.
