Bangalore based Percussive Arts Centre (PAC) and Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi have organised a seminar on thaalavadyas on the occasion of the centenary of the veteran percussionist Palani Subramania Pillai.

Percussive Arts Centre holds annual seminar in thaalavadyas and this year’s seminar is dedicated to the percussionist Palani Subramania Pillai

Palani Subramania Pillai was born on April 20, 1908 and was a stalwart in the Pudukkottai School of playing the mridangam and the kanjira.

The seminar will be held on Feb. 10, 2008 from 10.30 am onwards.
At Seva Sadana, 14th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore – 3

While J. W. Lobo, director, ICCR, Bangalore will inaugurate the festival, eminent art critic S. N. Chandrasekhar will be the chief guest of the occasion.

Mridangist K. S. Kalidas will speak on ‘The Pudukkottai School of Laya and Palani Subramania Pillai’s place in it’ Kalidas is a disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai.
Mridangam maestro Trichy Sankaran, another disciple of Palani will present a demonstration of the special techniques, nadais, mohras and korvais of his guru. He will be supported by N. Amrit on the kanjira for this demonstration.

Mridangam vidwan T.A.S Mani will be the chairman of the session and N. S. Krishnamurthy, former director, All India Radio will deliver the valedictory address.

An album titled ‘Vrishti’, a percussion ensemble directed by percussionist Anoor Ananthakrishna Sarma and presented by V. Krishna will also be released on the occasion.