Thiruvalaputhur T A Kaliyamurthy Kalaimamani Thiruvalaputhur T A Kaliyamurthy (born October 22, 1948) is a famous Thavil artist providing 'special' Thavil accompaniment ('Special' in percussion circles denotes selection-grade status and seniority) to the Nagaswaram maestros. Thavil The thavil (Tamil:தவில்) or tavil is a barrel (drum) shaped heavy hand percussion instrument from Tamil Nadu. It is used in temple, folk and Carnatic music, often accompanying the "nadaswaram". The "thavil" and the "nadaswaram" are essential components of traditional festivals and ceremonies in South India.
T. S. Nandakumar T. S. Nandakumar (born on 17 March 1958) is a well known Indian versatile carnatic music percussionist. He is primarily adept in playing the mridangam. M. L. Vasanthakumari Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari (Tamil: மெட்ராஸ் லலிதாங்கி வசந்தகுமாரி ) (popularly referred to as MLV) (3 July 1928 – 31 October 1990) was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest among the established musicians of that era, and was the youngest female awardee of the "Sangita Kalanidhi" award. Chakra Tanam Chakra Tanam (Sanskrit चक्र तानम्) is one of the styles of tanam singing in Carnatic Classical Music tradition. It owes its name to the circular or cyclic approach adopted by the performer. Khim The Khim (Khmer: ឃឹម "Khum";Thai: ขิม, ];) is a stringed musical instrument that is from Persia, called Hammered Dulcimer or Cimbalon. This Khim was introduced to Cambodia, Laos and Thailand from China, where a similar (though, since the late 20th century, usually larger) instrument is called "yangqin". This instrument is also known as Santur in India. It is played with two flexible bamboo sticks with soft leather at the tips to produce a soft tone. This instrument can be played by either sitting down on the floor with the khim on the floor, or by sitting on a chair or standing while the Khim is on a stand. The khim produces a bright and expressive sound when played. It is made of wood, with brass strings that are laid across the instrument. The Australian-born musician and vocal artist Lisa Gerrard specialises in the use of a khim hammered dulcimer, featuring its music on several albums and performing with the instrument live on tour. A. K. C. Natarajan A. K. C. Natarajan (born 30 March 1931) is a carnatic music clarinet player. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 2008. He received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1994. He was bestowed with the title "Nadha Dweepa Kalanidhi" by Nadhadweepam Trust, Tiruchirappalli. He learnt vocal music from Alathur Venkatesa Iyer and his nagaswaram teacher was Iluppur Natesa Pillai, brother of the thavil maestro Iluppur Panchami. Anitha Kuppusamy Anitha Kuppusamy is a Tamil folk and carnatic singer, and television host known for her 'Naatupura Pattu', a Tamil folk art. Anitha aspired to become a singer from a young age. Apart from singing, Anitha has appeared as a judge on several television reality shows. Anitha has written few books on cookery and appeared in cookery shows on TV. Ranat Ranat (Thai: ระนาด ,  ] , also spelled "ranad" or "ranaat") is the generic name for keyboard percussion instruments used in the music of Thailand. The bars of the various types of "ranat" may be made from hardwood or bamboo ("ranat ek" ระนาดเอก and "ranat thum" ระนาดทุ้ม ), metal ("ranat ek lek" ระนาดเอกเหล็ก and "ranat thum lek" ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก ), or, much more rarely, glass ("ranat kaeo" ระนาดแก้ว ). Haridwaramangalam A. K. Palanivel Haridwaramangalam A. K. Palanivel (1948 in Tamil Nadu, India) is an artist of the Indian drum thavil. K. P. Parameswaran K.P.Parameswaran (Kodunthirapully Parameswaran) (Malayalam: )(Tamil: ) is a professional mridangam artiste (AIR 'A' Grade Artiste).He is a prime disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr.T.K.Murthy. He has performed all over India and abroad with various stalwarts of Carnatic Music. He is a torch bearer of the Thanjavur style of mridangam playing. Kottakkal Madhu Kottakkal Madhu (born October 26, 1968) is a Sopana music singer and composer from Kottakkal, Kerala, who specializes in Kathakali related music. He was born to K. Govindan Nair and K. Sathyabhama. He initially learned his music from Parameswara Iyer. Subsequently, in 1980, he joined P.S.V. Natyasangham at Kottakkal, an institute for learning performing arts, to learn Kathakali vocal music. He later became a senior faculty member at the P.S.V. Natyasangham. He has composed music in many kathakali performances in India and toured Switzerland once with the P.S.V. Natyasangham group. Mohanam Mohanam is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an "audava" rāga (or "owdava" rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a "janya" rāga of Harikambojhi(28th Melakartha Raga). However there are disputes about Mohanam being the janya of Sankharbharanam also because all the swaras present in the Arohana and Avarohana of Mohanam satisfy both the melakartha ragas listed above. Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru is an iconic music festival, which has been conducted consecutively since 2005. It is an eight-day Carnatic music festival lasting from Dec 18 - 25 every year at Kamarajar Arangam,Teynampet, Chennai. Performances by leading Carnatic and Hindustani stalwarts, legends, upcoming talents, musicians, dancers, and discourses have been scheduled elaborately in this weeklong event with more than 50 enchanting shows commencing from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. Melattur style The Melattur style of Bharatanatyam dance was developed largely out of the devadasi traditions and Melattur Bhagavata Mela by Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer (1900–1980), a sanyasi following Srividya Upasana. He re-established the Suddha Nrittam from kuchipudi(intricate tapping footwork that explores different time measures in different tempos), Bhattasa Natyam and Perani Natyam (dance on the clay pot). Mangudi became interested in Shuddha Nrittam after watching a performance by devadasi of Cheyyur Sengalvarayar temple, who performed it along with other 71 types of items (e.g. Kavita, Nritta, Vadya, Sangeeta and others). Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" (Tamil: செம்மொழியான தமிழ் மொழியாம் ; alternately titled Tamil Meet Anthem, World Classical Tamil Conference Theme or Semmozhi) is a Tamil song composed by A. R. Rahman, penned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and performed by several leading Tamil artistes of over three generations. It is the official theme song for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010, encapsulating the contributions of Tamil culture and literature down the ages. The song, a tribute to the Tamil language, features a fusion of various musical styles, including Carnatic, Folk, Acoustic, Sufi, Rock and Rap. Madurai Mani Iyer Madurai Mani Iyer (Tamil: மதுரை மணி ஐயர் ) (October 25, 1912 – June 8, 1968) was a Carnatic music singer, who was famous for his unique style. He was one of the most highly celebrated carnatic vocalists during the first half of the 20th century. He, along with his contemporaries Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and G.N. Balasubramaniam, are referred to as the 20th century male trinity of Carnatic music. He was renowned for his adept skills at singing kalpana swarams, neraval, and raga alapana. His music continues to be highly regarding today. Neralattu Rama Poduval Neralattu Rama Poduval or Njaralathu Rama Poduval (1916–1996) was an exponent of the ashtapadi/sopanam music form practised in Kerala in southern India. A recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Academy award, he hailed from a rugged village called Thiruvaazhaamkunnu, near Mannarkkad in Palakkad district and lived most of life in Angadipuram in Malappuram district, the place famous for the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple. Tanam Tanam or Taanam (pronounced tānam) is one of the methods of raga improvisation ("manodharma") in Carnatic Classical Music tradition, suited mainly for vocal music, Violin and Veena. Narayam Narayam (Malayalam: നാരായം) (Sanskrit: नाराचः) or ezhuthani (Malayalam: എഴുത്താണി) is a writing instrument (stylus) used since antiquity in South India, Sri Lanka and other proximate regions of Asia. Although similar to the modern day pen in shape and use, instead of using a colored ink, it scribes on the surface (normally a pre-treated palm leaf) creating fine scratches in the form of letters and shapes. In essence, the narayam is a long piece of iron with a sharpened or pointed end and fabricated to ergonomically fit into the writer's fist. Thiriyuzhichil Thiriyuzhichil is a dance ritual performed by Pulluvas in Kerala (South India) to alleviate the fear of snakes, to appease the snake and to be blessed with babies. This is more popular in the districts of Trichur, Calicut and Palghat and it is performed in Hindu Temples and shrines meant for snakes. By performing this, the queen of snakes could be appeased. The performer starts dancing holding a torch in his hand using various types of music instruments. P. S. Narayanaswamy Puliyur Subramaniam Narayanaswamy also spelt Narayanaswami (born February 24, 1934 in Konerirajapuram Thanjavur in Madras Presidency) is a Carnatic music vocalist. He learnt music from Tiruppambaram Somasundaram Pillai, T. M. Tyagarajan and later from Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He awarded the Bala Gana Kala Rathnam at the age of 12. He worked in All India Radio.