The Vazhuvoor style / Bani be came widely popular in the 19th Century with
Natya Kala Kesari Padmasri. Guru Vazhuvoor B Ramaiah Pillai.
Born in 1910 to Parthiban and Bagyathammal in Vazhuvoor, He learned the arts of Bharathanatyam and Natuvangam from his maternal uncle, Thiru Mannikka Nattuvanar. In 1938, After being requested to Choreograph a dance sequence for a film by Raja Chandrasekar, Vazhuvoor B Ramaiah Pillai moved to Madras. Being the only Dance choreographer back in the days, He was high in demand, which made it impossible to take any tuitions. One of his first students was T M Pattamal. Followed by Lalitha-Padmini-Ragini, Kumari Kamal, Radha Vishwanathan, Vyjayanthimala and Hemamalini Arni are some of his many other illustrious students. He advocated the traditional Vazhuvoor Bani from his ancestors and popularized the bani across the Globe. He Implemented Rama Nadaga Kiruti, Bharathiyar songs, Ootthukadu Venkata Kavi songs and Kutrala Kuravanji.
During the British rule, Bharathiyar songs were Banned but the Vazhuvoor Bani supported the Independence movement by Performing the songs on Stage plays. He retired from teaching in his late 60’s. He received Numerous awards including Isai Peraingar from Tamil Isai Sangam (1961), Sangeet Natak Akedemi Award (1966), Padmasri, Kalaimamani and Natya Kala Kesari. His Elderest Son Kalaimamani Natya Kala Samrat Vazhuvoor R Samraj Pillai continued his father’s Legacy buy teaching students after his father’s retirement. Having inherited the teaching skills from his father at the tender age of 25, He was proud of his Inheritance. His bani & Style had a vibrant synthesis of Nadanam and Abinayam.
He prides himself on his ability to teach without having to demonstrate except rarely. In his view, an instructor should be able to verbally instruct the student in a way they understand and follow them in their dance. His contribution to the Bani are choregraphing the new adavujathi in a way to give impression of speeding up the dance, he pioneered the practice of adding discrete stories in the Sanchari bhavams – For Example, In Papanasam Sivan’s Enna Thavam Seidhanai – the line “Kaiyil endhi, Seerathi , Paaluti, Thalata enna thavam seithanai “ -What good deeds have I done to serve Krishna, to hold, to fondle, to feed and to lull him to sleep – Offers the opportunity to choreograph a Sanchari of this type and Many more like this.
He received the titles of Natya Kala Samrat and Kalaimamani revealing his generosity and silently carrying his mission to keep the Vazhuvoor Flag Flying.
Guru Vazuvoor Samraj founded the Annual Dance & Music Festival in the year 1980 at Rasika Ranjini Sabha, Mylapore, Chennai. The festival was conducted for 10 days and drew huge audiences year after year for the versatility and artistic diversity.
Guru Vazhuvoor S Palaniappan, born in 1961, is the first grandson of Padmasri Nataykalakesari Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai and the elder son of Kalaimamani Natayakalasamrat Guru Vazhuvoor R. Samraj. A tutor by his own merit, Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan, learnt his initial music from his grandfather, the illustrious Chidambaram S. Gopalakrishnan, elder brother of Chidambaram C.S.Jayaraman, an accomplished singer who captivated millions of audience with his unique voice & style for over two decades.
Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan extended his learning skills in other facts of music too by being trained in Mridangam from Vidwan Ratnasabapathi & Vidwan Vinayagaram. Guru Vazhuvoor Palaniappan’s childhood interest in Dance was so intense that he set out to learn the basics from Guru Muthuswamy Pillai before becoming a part of his Grandfather Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai & Guru Vazhuvoor Samraj’s dance profession. Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan started learning Nattuvangam at the age of 12 and was accompanying his father’s concerts right from the year 1978.
He has had the rare privilege of watching Kumari K. J Sarasa, Chitra Visveswaran, Dr.Padma Subramaniam, Kamala & Radha, Kanaka, E.V. Saroja being tutored by his grandfather & father. Maintaining the Vazhuvoorar Tradition through their dancing careers all of them blossomed into dancing greats and have left a stamp of Vazhuvoor Bhani, that is being currently pursued by Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan in his dancing school, Vazuvoorar Classical Bharatanatya Art Centre . Guru Vazhuvoor S. Palanaiappan strives meticulously in maintaining the trend of “classical perfection” set by the Legends Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai & Guru Vazhuvoor R. Samraj. It is an undisputed fact that the legends worked in unison to bring to the art a new scintillation and luster, which codified the “VAZHUVOOR STYLE of Bharatha Natyam”. Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan has performed both as accompanying artist and as a Solo artist in “Nattuvangam” ever since 1978 . Setting up Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharatnatya Art centre,
He ensured promoting young talent in Classical Music through their annual music festival that has been held for over 40 years which he is now Continuing in Coimbatore as Vazhuvoorar Kalai Vizha . Guru Vazhuvoor S.Palaniappan has chosen to spread the Vazhuvoor Tradition far & wide in efforts to retain the tradition of Vazhuvoor Bani through his dance schools And Online Classes on Skype / Google Duo.
He has conducted Salangai Poojai for more than 100 students and Aarengetram for more than 39 students. He has attended many programs, some of them are – Nattuvangam for many Arangetram with his father, Ulaga Tamil Manadu held in Mauritius, Swati Tirunal Festival in Travancore Palace, Andal Charitram in Chicago Aurora during Mahakumbabishekam of Srinivasa Temple, Bhartanatyanjali in Tanjore Brahadeswarar temple, Festival Celebrations of 1000 years held at the Tanjore Big Temple, Tiruvarur Music College, Karur Music College and World Classical Tamil meet as guest.
He has represented as a judge in Sri Krishna Sweets Kanal Parakum Jathigal, and in a number of Government programs. He has given training to both his daughters of Dance, Teaching and Natuvangam along with his Senior disciples. He has received the awards- Mayura Natuvanga Nanmani at Mayura natyanjali and Natya Selvam from Muthamizh Peravai, Chennai in the hands of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M K Stalin AVL.
The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Tamil Nadu, to recognise artists in the state for their achievements.Chennai in the hands of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M K Stalin AVL . Nominated As SYNDICATE MEMBER Of Tamilnadu Dr. J. Jayalalitha Music & Fine Arts University. 2025
VAZHUVOORAR 
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