My grandfather Papanasam Sivan recalled with joy the times when Pazhani Subramania Pillai had accompanied him. He often said that there was a ‘holy Trinity of mridangam artists’ and it comprised Palghat Mani Iyer, Pazhani Subramania Pillai and Ramanathapuram C. S. Murugabhupathi.
Subramania Pillai’s position in the annals of modern mridangam artistry is rather interesting for several reasons. In the beginning he had a high-level kannaku-oriented style but soon modified it to an almost pure sarvalaghu style to make it more pleasing for the lay audiences.
The vidwan was known for his zest for life. He bought a palatial bungalow on Boag Road, in upscale T. Nagar. He lived in great style but never was his taste outrageous or ostentatious; it was always refined, elegant. He was particular about his appearance. Only the best perfumes would do for him. Similarly, he would always go for white muslin shirts and the best khadi dhotis. He was extremely fond of cars and even owned a Fiat Millicento, considered the best indigenous car of the time. Not just that, he changed his car every two years or so. And so possessive was he of his motor that only he would drive it. He had three Pomeranians which enjoyed his full affection. As he had no children, his wife’s sisters’ children formed part of his extended family.
Pazhani was a majestic presence at concerts. Fair and handsome, he would come clad in a spot-less white attire, well-groomed hair, fine perfume, and diamond ear studs.
Rasikas would often comment that whenever GNB, Mayavaram Govinda Raja Pillai and Pazhani took the concert platform together, it was as much a feast for the eyes as for the ears!
Here’s another tale that my grandfather would narrate. The great Nayana Pillai reigned supreme as a vocalist and his music was known for his laya intricacies. Often, he would trick his accompanists with his carefully prepared and well-rehearsed pallavis and korvais and gloat over his ‘victory’ over them. Although he was superbly talented, he would ‘terrorise’ his accompanists. Pazhani, all of 15, once accompanied this vidwan at the Saraswathi Gana Sabha in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. By all accounts, the young boy did very well. This was not surprising as his father Muthiah Pillai and his ‘manasiga guru’ Dakshinamurthy Pillai frequently accompanied Nayana Pillai. Pazhani too played with Nayana Pillai on several occasions and even more with Nayana Pillai’s disciple Chittoor Subramania Pillai.
Sadly, Pazhani Subramania Pillai passed away when he was just 54. God takes away those he loves early!
(The writer, a Carnatic vocalist, is the grandson of Papanasam Sivan)
