A vidwan's story

Lalitha Ram's style and approach in the biography on Palani Subramania Pillai sustains readers' interest.

February 23, 2012 04:28 pm | Updated 04:28 pm IST

Dhurva Nachathiram,  Palani Subramania Pillai. by Lalitha Ram.

Dhurva Nachathiram, Palani Subramania Pillai. by Lalitha Ram.

An attractive picture of a young Palani Subramania Pillai adorns the cover of this book, which is a biography of the mridangam vidwan.

The simple style and cogent approach of Lalitha Ram make readers feel a part of certain incidents described in the book. His research helps in vividly tracing the evolution of the mridangam as an instrument and how it came to earn a permanent place in Carnatic music concerts.

Gripping tale

The narration of the Mumbai concert of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, where Palani was asked to play five thani avarthanams covering five talams by Bhagavatar and which brought Palani fame, is gripping.

Today it is hard to even imagine such encouragements on stage to accompanists. Lalitha Ram has fashioned his description to sustain the readers' interest throughout. Separate chapters have been dedicated to the torch bearers of the Pudukottai tradition of layam such as Manpoondiya Pillai, the palace lantern lamp-holder turned vidwan who went on invent the ganjira, , vidwans Dakshinamurthy Pillai and Muthiah Pillai (father of Palani Subramania Pillai).

The adversities Palani faced in life, such as his father's refusal to train him because he was left handed, or a harsh step mother, that made him more determined to make it big on stage have been elucidated with sensitivity. His disciples have also been featured towards the end of the book.

Publishers: Solvanam, 203, Navyagruha Apartment, (Opp.Oceanus Triton Apt.) Bellandur, Bangalore-560 103. phone: 97899 82967.

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