Sri Thandauthapanipillai was a famous bharathanatyam dancer as wells as a professional vocalist. He was born into a musical family. His grandfather was called Ramakrishnan, who was a great Bharathanaatyam artist.
K. N. Dhandayuthapani pillai | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1921-07-14)14 July 1921 |
| Died | 12 October 1974(1974-10-12) (aged 53) |
| Occupation(s) | Classical dancer Choreographer |
| Known for | Bharatanatyam |
| Spouse | Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai |
| Children | Dr. Uma Anand |
| Awards | Padma Shri Natyakala Chakravarthy Kalaimamani Natyakalanidhi |
Karaikal Natesa Dhandayudhapani Pillai (born 14 July 1921, Karaikal - 1974) was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, considered by many as one of the leading exponents of the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. He was also a teacher and trained multiple performers.
Born on 14 July 1921 in Karaikal, in the Indian union territory of Puducherry to A. K. Natesa Pillai, a known musician, he started training initially in music under his father, but later turned to Bharatanatyam and learned under his grandfather, who was a teacher of the dance form.[1] Subsequently, he joined Kalakshetra of Rukmini Devi Arundale as a teacher where he taught for a number of years. He was known to have authored several compositions for Bharatanatyam[2][3] and trained many students; Sri Vidya, J. Jayalalithaa, Hema Rajagopalan, Suganthi Sadayane, Nayana Shenoy,[4] Adyar K. Lakshman,[5] Uma Muralikrishna,[6] Vijayalakshmi Shetty-Ahuja,[7] Jayalakshmi Alva[8] and Geeta Chandran[9] are some of the notable ones among them. He was the dance choreographer of a number of films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi such as Raja Guruvu,[10] Man-Mauji, Chhaya, Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam and Bhai-Bhai.[11] He also founded Sri Rama Nataka Niketan, a dance academy in Chennai in 1967.[12] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1971, for his contributions to Dance.[13]
His wife, Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai, is a known Bharatanatyam expert and teacher[14] Her younger Sister Suria Santhanam also a noted Bharatanatyam teacher for 35 Years.[15]
He went to an eye operation in America. Following his return on 4 October, he attended his student's graduation ceremony. Later he had chest pain and was admitted to the hospital. On 12 October he died.
Sri Thandauthapanipillai was a famous bharathanatyam dancer as wells as a professional vocalist. He was born into a musical family. His grandfather was called Ramakrishnan, who was a great Bharathanaatyam artist.