Nellai Kannan on the artwork of taking part in the mridangam for dance

Celebrating a milestone: Nellai D Kannan
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

It was a path ordained for Nellai D Kannan. Son of Nellai P.S. Devaraja Iyer, a well known mridangist and namasankirtanam bhagavathar in Tirunelveli, he grew in a home that resonated with the sounds of the percussion instrument. Sensing his curiosity, Kannan’s father started instructing him mridangam. Listening to the boy taking part in, their neighbour, Courtallam Viswanathan Iyer, additionally a mridangist, took him beneath his wings . This robust basis paved the way in which for an extended and profitable journey. As Kannan completes 50 years as a mridangam artiste, he shares his experiences.

“I began taking part in mridangam for dance on the behest of Karaikudi Krishnamoorthy, an in depth household good friend, who satisfied my father that I might have higher alternatives as a dance accompanist,” says Kannan. The household then moved to Madras to assist him pursue his curiosity. Kannan started accompanying Carnatic vocalists. His shift to the world of dance occurred when he received an opportunity to play for famend Bharatanatyam dancer Vyjayanthimala. Later, dancer-choreographer M.V. Narasimhachari educated him to know the nuances of taking part in for dance. “I’ve been lucky to have labored with the perfect within the subject.”

Nellai Kannan throughout a lec-dem on ‘Mridangam taking part in for Bharatanatyam’.
| Photograph Credit score:
The Hindu Archives

He remembers with fondness his affiliation with the Dhananjayans, who took him on his first international journey. “It was due to them that I started working on legendary sitarist Pt. Ravi Shankar’s magnum opus ‘Ghanashyam’. This led to a different fabulous alternative — of being a part of George Harrison’s (Beatles) album ’Brainwashed’. These musical outings have had an important influence on my journey. I keep in mind as soon as when I had gone for a visa interview, the officer in-charge observed in my portfolio {a photograph} of mine with the Beatles star. Once I stated I had performed with him, he rapidly accredited my visa.“

Understanding early on the significance of being a workforce participant, Kannan says, “I realised how I ought to embellish and improve the efficiency. I play the arudhis and kanakkus in response to a dancer’s actions and footsteps.”

Kannan, who has been bestowed with a number of honours, additionally conducts lec-dems and composes dance items. “In the present day, once I look again, I really feel mridangam has crammed my life with rhythm.”  

Felicitation occasion

Jayanthi Subramanaim and Kala Darsana will have fun Nellai D Kannan’s golden jubilee yr as a mridangist on Might 11 (4 p.m.) at R.R. Sabha (mini corridor). Veteran dancer-scholar Nandini Ramani would be the chief visitor and Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari (director, Kalasamarpana Basis and trustee of RASOHAM) would be the visitor of honour. They are going to felicitate the mridangist. On the event, college students of Kala Darsana will current ‘Kapali Arupatthumoovar’.