Mridangam vidwan Guruvayur Dorai passed away on Oct.10. He was 91.
He accompanied seven generations of musicians, starting out playing alongside the maestro Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar
His arangetram was performed at the age of 8 ; he accompanied Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar at the temple in Guruvayur, Kerala.
.His guru was Palghat Subramania Pillai.
When his stature as a mridangist grew, he began to play alongside M. S. Subbulakshmi and did so for a long time.
Though he was affected by polio when he was a child, he overcame his physical disability and focussed on his music education.
He was honoured with the Padma Shri (2025), Sangeet Natak Academy award and the Kalaimamani award.
He lived in Saradhapuram Second Street, Mylapore. His family can be reached at 94444 55012
– Reported by Baskar Seshadri
