Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiyah Pillai
Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiyah Pillai (1910 - 1991) was a famous Bharathanatyam teacher from Tamil Nadu. He was popularly referred as Vazhuvoorar.
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Early life
Vazhuvoor Ramaiyah Pillai was born in the year 1910 to Parthiban and Bagyathammal in Vazhuvoor. He learnt the arts of Nattuvangam and Bharatanatyam from his maternal uncle Maanikka Nattuvanar.
Career
He was appreciated for introducing innovative trials in Bharatanatyam. He carried the mantle of traditional and most ancient vazhuvoor bani from his ancestors dating to the days of cholas dynasty. He popularized this bani round the globe. If Rukmani Devi Arundale institutionalized Bharatanatyam, Vazhuvooraar popularized it especially through his star disciple Kamala. He had implemented Rama Natak Kiruti, Tyagaraya Swami Kiruti, Bharathiyar songs, Kutralak Kuravanji, Arunachala Kavi songs, Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi songs in Baratanatyam through his instructions. During the time British had banned Bharathiyar's songs, Vazhuvoor made these songs performed by his students in stage plays thereby encouraging the Indian Independence support.
Family
His family members consist of - wife GNANASOUNDIRAM (late), Eldest daughter JAYALAKSHMI (late), Eldest son "Natya kala samrat" SAMRAJ (Late) who was a renowned dance master himself, Second son MANOHARAN (late), Third son GURUNATHAN (late), Second daughter BAGYALAKSHMI (Alive) who is also equally knowledgeable in classical dance and the last son MANIKKA VINAYAGAM (Alive) popular singer in movies.
Notable Students of Ramaiyah Pillai
Some of the notable students of Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiyah Pillai are
- Padmini
- Lalitha
- Vyjayanthimala
- E. V. Saroja
- Padma Subrahmanyam
- Kamala Lakshmanan
- Kanaka Srinivasan
- Dance educator Sujatha Vijayaraghavan
- Chitra Visweswaran
- Ramani Thilagam (wife of Poet Vali)
- K.J.Sarasa (Guru of TN Chiefminister J.Jayalalitha)
- Swamimalai.K.Rajarathinam
- Hemamalini Arni
Awards
Following were the awards received by Vazhuvoorar
- Isai Perarignar, 1961;[1] given by Tamil Isai Sangam at Chennai
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1966[2]
- Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 1979
- Padmasri
- Kalaimamani
- Naatya Kala Kesari
