Ranganayaki Ammal

Ranganayaki Ammal (28 May 1910 – 15 August 1998) was an Indian Mridangam player. She was the first to break the gender barrier and became the first Indian female percussionist. Ulaganathan Pillai, her brother was a violinist.

Achievements In the early 20th century, she became a trailblazing woman in the male-dominated field of Carnatic percussion. In the 1927 All India music conference in Madras, a significant moment was the inclusion of 17-year-old Thirukokarnam Ranganayaki Ammal as the only female among the 23 mridangam artists performing at the event.