K.N. Dandyuthapani Pillai

K N Dhandayudhapani Pillai, or Karaikal Natesa Dhandayudhapani Pillai, was a known dancer and choreographer in India. He was a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and choreographer. He was born on 14 July 1921 in Karaikal, Puducherry. His father, A.K. Natesa Pillai, was a known musician. His sister, Suria Santhanam, is also a famous dance teacher. Pillai’s wife Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai was also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. He has 1 child, Dr. Uma Anand Uma Anand was an Indian broadcaster, actor, and jo >> Read More... . He was awarded with various prestigious awards. He died in the year 1974, after facing an immense chest pain. 

K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai’s father and grandfather were also artists. His father, who was a known musician first taught him music. But he later on, found out that he is interested in dance. Then he started his dance training under his grandfather, who was a known Bharatnatyam dancer and teacher. After learning Bharatnatyam for several years, Pillai joined the Kalakshetra Foundation as a dance teacher. Kalakshetra Foundation is an arts and cultural academy, founded to preserve the legacy of Indian art forms, especially Bharatnatyam. A trained dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale founded the academy with her husband. Pillai taught in the dance academy for several years. Pillai, in his career as a dance teacher, taught several students.

Some notable names among his students are Sri Vidya, J. Jayalalithaa, Hema Rajagopalan, Uma Muralikrishnan, and Geeta Chandran. Apart from teaching dance in academies, he has choreographed in many movies. He has choreographed many stars in Tamil, Telugu, and even in Hindi movies. Some of his choreographed movies are Raja Guruvu (1954), Man-Mauji (1962), Chhaya (1961), Ham Panchhi Ek Daal Ke (1957), Sri Kalahstiswara Mahatyam (1954), and Bhai-Bhai (1957).  

K.N. Pillai also founded a dance academy in 1967. The academy was called Sri Rama Nataka Niketan. It was founded in Chennai. In 1971, Pillai was awarded with the fourth highest civilian award in India, the Padma Shri for his dedication and contribution towards the field of dance in India. He has also been awarded with Natyakala Chakravarthy, Kalaimamamani and Natyakalanidhi award.

K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai was a known dancer and choreographer in India. Born in Puducherry, he contributed a lot towards the field of dance in the country, especially Bharatnatyam. He has choreographed in many Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi movies. He has been honoured with various prestigious awards, including Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India. He died on October 1974, after facing a chest pain.