Composers and Musicians

Ponnayya (b.1804)

He is the second one of the famous Thanjavoor quartette. His youngest brother Vadivelu was the most famous musician in Swathi Thirunal’s court. Ponnayya’s ancestor was one Gangai Muthu who lived in the 17th century and was a devaram scholar, who is believed to hail form Tirunelveli. Gangai Muthu had two sons, Ramalingam and Gangamuthu.Gangmuthu had two sons Subbarayan (also known as Mahadeva Annavi, an accomplished veena player) and Chidambaram.

Subbarayan had 4 sons: Chinnaya, Ponnayya, Sivanandam and Vadivelu. After training under the legendary teacher and musician Muthuswamy Deekshithar, the quartette became Asthana Vidwans at Tanjavoor court. The eldest brother Chinnayya was later invited by Sri Krishna Devaraya to Mysore and he trained many students and teachers there. The second brother Ponnayya and the third Shivanandam rendered exemplary services in the court of Sarabhoji , the king of Thanjavoor. These brothers offered worship through the dance performances of their students in the Brihadeeshwara temple of Tanjavoor. Vadivelu shifted to Thiruvananthapuram and became the court musician of Travancore.Ponnayya, the send of the brothers is the composer of the Maya Malava Gaula Kriti “Maaya atheetha Swaroopini” (popularised) by D.K. Pattammal and M.D. Ramanthan). This kriti makes to Deekshithar in the line “ma guruguha swamiki ne dasudai’’.The Pandanelloor school of Bharathanatyam, known for its perfect jatis or pure dance pieces and adherence to tradition even today.

Compositios of Ponnayya:

Sakhiye inda [Varnam] Anandabhairavi Adi
Paramakalyani[Varnam] Bhairavi Rupaka
SaminiRammanave[Varnam] Bhairavi Adi
Neesati dora [Varnam] Bhairavi Rupaka
Mahadeva manohari Devamanohari Rupaka
Sri guruguha murthi Dhenuka Rupaka
Kanakangi Pai Gaula Adi
[Tillana] Hindusthani Bihag M.Chapu
Nivantisamini [Varnam] Kamalamanohari Adi
Samini pai [Varnam] Kedaragaula Ata
Ninu sareku nammiti Madhyamavathi Rupaka
Mangala pradambuichu Madhyamavathi Rupaka
Samiga natho [Varnam] Manohari Adi
Mayatita Mayamalavagaula Rupaka
Amba neelambari Nilambari Adi
Keliyugamuna Sahana M.Chapu
Athimoham [Varnam] Sankarabharanam Adi
Manavi kai konarda [Varnam] Sankarabharanam Adi
[Tiallana] Sankarabharanam Adi
Raghunatha nannu Shivaranjini Adi
Ranganathude Sourashtra Rupaka
Valachi vachchiyunna Sourashtra Ata


 
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