Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai Biography 
Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai was a legendary Carnatic violinist from Tamil Nadu who lived during the period - 1898 – 1970. He was honoured in the Royal Courts of Ramanathapuram, Kochchin, Ettayapuram, Mysore and Thiruvananthapuram. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma honoured and presented him with an elephant. He donated it to Sri Adi Kumbheswara Temple, Kumbakonam. Isai Perarignar in 1957, Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959 and Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1948 are the major honour received by him. Noted artists M. M. Dandapani Desikar and Mayavaram V. R. Govindaraja Pillai are his disciples. Noted film actor and politician Thyagu is his grandson. Though Thyagu has been associated with DMK since 1983 for long 28 years, he quit the party in 2011. The reason cited was Karunanidhi's broken promise of honouring Thyagu's grandfather with a postage stamp during his centenary celebration.
He was born in a small village called Alangudi near Needamangalam. It was his mother Kamalathammal who nourished his artistic talents. Kandaswamy Pillai was his first guru in carnatic violin. Then he continued training under Tiruvisanallur Pallavi Narayanaswamy Iyer, Pandanallur Chinnaswamy Pillai and Tirukodikaval Ramaswamy Iyer. Though he learnt vocal music also, all his teachers were in the opinion that he should choose violin over vocal music. Thus Pillai dedicated his full life time for this musical instrument. He accompanied many Carnatic vocalists for their live music concerts.
He was appointed Asthana Vidhwan in the Courts at Travancore in 1940 and at Ettayapuram in 1942. He received numerous honours from different royal courts as well. For his outstanding contributions to the field of music he has been honoured by state governments and Sangeet Natak Akademi as well. During his time he played for all top artists.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 25, 2014
