Thanjavur K. P. Sivanandam

Thanjavur K.P. Sivanadam
Born	March 1, 1917
Died	November 30th, 2003
Occupation	Musician...
Spouse	Sarada Sivanadam

Thanjavur K.P. Sivanandam (1917–2003) was a Carnatic veena player and also a descendant of the Tanjore Quartet.

Early Life

Sivanandam was born into a musical family as the second son of Thanjavur K. Ponniah Pillai, a scholar and musician. He received training in vocal music and Bharatanatyam from his grandfather, Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai, and his father. He studied veena under Vidwans Desamangalam Subrahmanya Iyer and Gomati Sankara Iyer. Sivanandam earned the Sangita Bhushanam degree from Annamalai University.

Musical Career

At 21, Sivanandam began his career as a lecturer in music at Annamalai University for 11 years. He later joined the Tamil Nadu Government's Department of Music as a professor for two decades. In 1980, he founded the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where he served as Honorary Principal. His career included performances in India and abroad.

Contributions and Works

Sivanandam played a pivotal role in preserving traditional musical compositions. He wrote several influential works, including Natya Isai Karuvoolam, Thanjai Peruvudaiyan Perisai, and Adi Bharata Kala Manjari, which have become essential resources for students and practitioners of Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.

Awards

Sivanandam received several awards:

• Sangita Kalanidhi (1992) from the Madras Music Academy.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1980) from India's National Academy for Music, Dance, and Drama.
• Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu government.

Personal Life

He was married to Sarada Sivanandam, who was also a veena artist and they have performed together. Sivanandam passed away on July 30, 2003.

See Also

• Carnatic Music
• List of Carnatic composers
• List of Carnatic instrumentalists
• Trinity of Carnatic music