K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai

Karaikal Natesa Dhandayudhapani Pillai (born 14 July 1921, Karaikal - 1974) was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, considered by many as one of the leading exponents of the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. He was also a teacher and trained multiple performers.

Career Born on 14 July 1921 in Karaikal in French India (nowadays the Indian union territory of Pondicherry), to A. K. Natesa Pillai, a known musician, he started training initially in music under his father, but later turned to Bharatanatyam and learned under his grandfather, who was a teacher of the dance form. Subsequently, he joined Kalakshetra of Rukmini Devi Arundale as a teacher where he taught for a number of years. He was known to have authored several compositions for Bharatanatyam and trained many students; Jaya Gowri (Malaysia), Sri Vidya, J. Jayalalithaa, Hema Rajagopalan, Suganthi Sadayane, Nayana Shenoy, Adyar K. Lakshman, Uma Muralikrishna, Vijayalakshmi Shetty-Ahuja, Jayalakshmi Alva and Geeta Chandran are some of the notable ones among them. He was the dance choreographer of a number of films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi such as Raja Guruvu, Man-Mauji, Chhaya, Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam and Bhai-Bhai. He also founded Sri Rama Nataka Niketan, a dance academy in Chennai in 1967. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1971, for his contributions to Dance.

Personal life His wife, Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai, is a known Bharatanatyam expert and teacher Her younger Sister Suria Santhanam also a noted Bharatanatyam teacher for 35 Years.

Death

He went to an eye operation in America. Following his return on 4 October, he attended his student's graduation ceremony. Later he had chest pain and was admitted to the hospital. On 12 October he died.