Noted mridangam artiste Guruvayur Dorai passes away

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

Dorai evolved a distinctive style, blending his own technique with lessons learnt from the late Palani Subramania Pillai. His gumkis were particularly admired. In the 1940s, he accompanied his sister, Guruvayur Ponnammal, as a vocalist and a mridangam player. He performed with all the leading musicians of his time and was M.S. Subbulakshmi’s regular mridangam accompanist for many years.

Dorai developed an interest in layam (rhythm) at a very young age. His father, concerned about his physical disability — Dorai had been affected by polio — persuaded Palghat Subbaiyar, who had accompanied Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar for a concert, to teach him mridangam.