It was a path ordained for Nellai D Kannan. Son of Nellai P.S. Devaraja Iyer, a widely 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. Hearing the boy playing, their neighbour, Courtallam Viswanathan Iyer, additionally a mridangist, took him beneath his wings . This robust basis paved the method for an extended and profitable journey. As Kannan completes 50 years as a mridangam artiste, he shares his experiences.
“I started playing mridangam for dance at the behest of Karaikudi Krishnamoorthy, a close family friend, who convinced my father that I would have greater opportunities 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 bought an opportunity to play for famend Bharatanatyam dancer Vyjayanthimala. Later, dancer-choreographer M.V. Narasimhachari skilled him to grasp the nuances of playing for dance. “I have been fortunate to have worked with the best in the field.”
Nellai Kannan throughout a lec-dem on ‘Mridangam playing for Bharatanatyam’.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
He remembers with fondness his affiliation with the Dhananjayans, who took him on his first international journey. “It was because of them that I got to work on legendary sitarist Pt. Ravi Shankar’s magnum opus ‘Ghanashyam’. This led to another fabulous opportunity — of being part of George Harrison’s (Beatles) album ’Brainwashed’. These musical outings have had a great impact on my journey. I remember once when I had gone for a visa interview, the officer in-charge noticed in my portfolio a photograph of mine with the Beatles star. When I said I had played with him, he quickly approved my visa.“
Understanding early on the importance of being a team player, Kannan says, “I realised how I should embellish and enhance the performance. I play the arudhis and kanakkus according to a dancer’s movements and footsteps.”
Kannan, who has been bestowed with a number of honours, additionally conducts lec-dems and composes dance items. “Today, when I look back, I feel mridangam has filled my life with rhythm.”
Felicitation occasion
Jayanthi Subramanaim and Kala Darsana will rejoice Nellai D Kannan’s golden jubilee yr as a mridangist on May 11 (4 p.m.) at R.R. Sabha (mini corridor). Veteran dancer-scholar Nandini Ramani will likely be the chief visitor and Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari (director, Kalasamarpana Foundation and trustee of RASOHAM) will likely be the visitor of honour. They will felicitate the mridangist. On the event, college students of Kala Darsana will current ‘Kapali Arupatthumoovar’.
Published – May 07, 2025 03:31 pm IST
