K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai

Karaikal Natesa Dhandayudhapani Pillai (born 14 July 1921, Karaikal) 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.

K. N. Thandauthapani pillai
Born(1921-07-14)14 July 1921
Karaikal Puducherry, India
Died12 October 1974(1974-10-12) (aged 53)
OccupationClassical dancer
Choreographer
Known forBharatanatyam
Spouse(s)Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai
ChildrenDr. Uma Anand
AwardsPadma Shri Natyakalachakravarthy Kalaimamani Natyakalanidhi

Career

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]

Personal life

His wife, Chandra Dandayudhapani Pillai, is a known Bharatanatyam expert and teacher[14] and his younger brother, Dakshinamoorthy Pillai who died in 2005, was also a noted Bharatanatyam teacher.[15]

Death

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.

See also

Sri Thandauthapanipillai was a famous bharathanatyam dancer as wells as a professional vocalist. He was born into a musical family

References
  1. Hema Rajagopalan (26 March 2016). "K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai Baani". Remembrance. Narthaki. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. "Compositions of K.N.Dandayudapani Pillai". Indian Heritage. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  3. "Dance rich in rhythm". The Hindu. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  4. "Nayana Shenoy". Shivam School of Dance. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  5. "Adyar K. Lakshman speaks to S. Janaki" (PDF). Sruti. May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  6. Sunil Kothari; Avinash Pasricha (January 2001). Kuchipudi. Abhinav Publications. pp. 221–. ISBN 978-81-7017-359-5.
  7. "About Guru". Natraj Dance. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. "Noted Bharatanatyam dancer Jayalakshmi Alva passes away". The Hindu. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. "Short Bio" (PDF). Geeta Chandran. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. "Raja Guruvu". The Southern Nightingale. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. "Dandayudapani Pillai on IMDb". Internet Movie Database. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  12. "Sri Rama Nataka Niketan". Sri Rama Nataka Niketan. 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  13. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  14. "Birth anniversary celebrated". Carnatica.net. 17 December 2001. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  15. His grandson, Karthik Balaji is currently pursuing Engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeths college of Engineering."Delhi based dance guru Dakshinamoorthy Pillai passes away". Kutcherri Buzz. 27 April 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.


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