One milestone celebration: Nelai de Kannan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
This was a way for Neli de Kannan. In Tirunelveli, a famous Mrindangist and son of Namasakirtanam Nelli PS Devaraja Iyer, he grew in a house that echoed with the sound of a collision. Feeling his interest, Kannan’s father started teaching him Mridangam. While playing the boy, his neighbors, cortelam Vishwanathan Iyer, also a softist, took him under his wings. This strong foundation paved the way for a long and successful journey. As Kannan completes 50 years as a milder artist, he shares his experience.
Kannan says, “I started playing mridangam for dancing at the behest of Karikudi Krishnamurthy, a close family friend, who assured my father that I would have more opportunities as a dance company.” The family then moved to Madras so that he could carry forward his interest. Kannan started with the Karnataka singer. His innings in the dance world occurred when he got an opportunity to play for the famous Bharatanam dancer Vyjayanimala. Later, dancer-choreographer MV Narasimhari trained him to understand the nuances of playing for dancing. “I have been lucky to work with the best in the field.”
Neli Kannan during a lake-dem on ‘Playing Mridangam for Bharatnam’. , Photo Credit: Hindu Archives
He recalls with his association with Dhananjayan, who took him on his first foreign trip. “It was because of him that I got to work on the legendary stenist PT. Ravi Shankar’s Magnum Ops ‘Ghanshyam’. Due to this another great opportunity mixed-Mixing-Mixing-being part of the (Beatles) album ‘Brainwash’ of-being part of the ‘Brainwash’.
Quickly understanding the importance of being a team player, Kannan says, “I realized how I should ordered to increase the performance. I play Arudha And Kankus According to the movements and maps of a dancer. ,
Kannan, who is given with many honors, also operates lec-dims and creates pieces of dance. “Today, when I look back, I think Mridangam has filled my life with rhythm.”
Felicitation event
Jayanti Subramaniam and Kala Darsana Nalli Dan Kannan will celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year on May 11 (4 pm) as a mridazist at RR Sabha (Mini Hall). Veteran dancer Vivan Nandini Ramani will be the chief guest and Vasantalakshmi Narasimhari (director, trustee of Kalasamarpana Foundation and Rasohum) will be the guest of honor. They will reshuffle the mridist. On this occasion, Kala Darshana students will present ‘Kapali Arupatthumowar’.
Published – May 07, 2025 03:31 PM IST
