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. Humble and unassuming, Dorai trained many students. 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. Dorai received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Kalaimamani award, and the Padma Shri.
Later, when I met him, he rendered a brief alapana in Sri raga and sang Kamalambike ,” Lalitharam said.
