K. P. K. Chandrasekaran

🪔 About

K. P. K. Chandrasekaran is a distinguished Bharatanatyam guru and the eighth-generation scion of the illustrious Tanjore Quartet nattuvanar lineage, specifically from Chinniah's line. He is the son of the renowned guru Thanjavur K. P. Kittappa Pillai. Chandrasekaran began his rigorous training under his father at the age of 15, learning rare and traditional compositions such as Navasandhi Kavuthuvam, Panchamurthy Kavuthuvam, Sooladhi, Prabandham, Melaprapthi, and Thodayamangalam, all composed by his ancestors. Following the family tradition where male members primarily focused on nattuvangam rather than stage performance, he embraced nattuvangam as his profession. He continues to uphold and propagate the rich heritage of the Tanjore Quartet by teaching Bharatanatyam. He serves as a teacher at the Government Music School in Tiruvarur and also instructs numerous private students. Chandrasekaran founded and leads the Kittappa Natyalaya in Thanjavur, an institution dedicated to preserving the family's artistic legacy. He also conducts regular workshops in Bengaluru, collaborating with academies run by his father's disciples, such as the Ponniah Lalita Kala Academy (Padmini Rao) and Kalasindhu Arts Academy (Poornima Gururaj). His teaching extends internationally, having conducted arangetrams in the Netherlands for students of Rajamani, another disciple of his father. The family is deeply involved in "nattu-muttu sevai" (dance and music service) at temples, a tradition carried on from his ancestors who were "oduvamoorthys" (temple singers). Chandrasekaran's efforts also include bringing ancestral palm manuscripts into print, ensuring the preservation of these invaluable compositions. His children, Charumathi and Sabhapathi, are actively continuing the family's dance tradition.