Renowned mridangam artiste Guruvayur Dorai dies at 92

Guruvayur Dorai, the mridangam player who accompanied seven generations of musicians, died on Saturday following age-related complications. He was 92 and is survived by his wife and daughter.

Dorai accompanied musicians beginning with Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and developed a distinctive style that combined his own technique with lessons learnt from the late Palani Subramania Pillai. His gumkis were particularly admired.

Early association with leading musicians

In the 1940s, Dorai accompanied his sister, Guruvayur Ponnammal, as both a vocalist and a mridangam player. He went on to perform with all the leading musicians of his time. He was also M.S. Subbulakshmi’s regular mridangam accompanist for many years.

Dorai developed an interest in layam, or rhythm, at a very young age. His father, concerned about his physical disability, persuaded Palghat Subbaiyar to teach him mridangam. Dorai had been affected by polio.

Subbaiyar had accompanied Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar for a concert before he began teaching Dorai. “He taught me a few lessons, which I repeated without mistakes. He was impressed with my ability,” Dorai recalled in an interview with Parivadini, an organisation that promotes music, particularly nagaswaram and thavil traditions. He later learnt from Narayana Pisharody.

Chembai and Palani Subramania Pillai

Dorai acknowledged the role played by Chembai in shaping his career. At the age of eight, he accompanied Chembai in a concert that marked his arangetram, or debut performance.

Chembai later helped Dorai learn from Palani Subramania Pillai, who had visited Thirupunthura for a concert. After moving to Chennai, Dorai approached Pillai to study under him. Pillai was initially hesitant because the finger techniques of his school differed from those Dorai had already adopted.

Pillai’s wife, Kolar Rajam, persuaded him to teach Dorai. Dorai later trained many students and was described as humble and unassuming.

Music historian Lalitharam recalled that after an enthralling concert at the Music Academy, Dorai travelled to Thiruvaiyaru to participate in the Thyagaraja Aradhana, taking an ordinary bus. “I could not bring myself to talk to him. Later, when I met him, he rendered a brief alapana in Sri raga and sang Kamalambike,” Lalitharam said.

Dorai received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Kalaimamani award and the Padma Shri.

Source: The Hindu