Vaitheeswarankoil Sethuramu Muthuswamy Pillai
Bharatanatyam Performer • Teacher
81+
Years of Experience
1+
Students Taught
1
Followers
❖ Guru Parampara ❖
View Full Parampara TreeAbout
Vaitheeswarankoil Sethuramu Muthuswamy Pillai (1921-1992) was a highly respected Bharatanatyam guru, choreographer, and nattuvanar, born into a hereditary family of musicians, dancers, and nattuvanars in Vaitheeswarankoil, Tamil Nadu, India. His early exposure to the arts came from observing his foster father, nattuvanar Vaitheeswarankoil Meenakshisundaram…
Journey Timeline
1921
Born
c. 1936
Became disciple of Kattumannarkoil Muthukumara Pillai — Moved to Mayavaram at age 15
c. 1945
Moved to Madras (Chennai) and joined Nrithyodaya — Joined as a faculty member
1940s-1960s
Film choreographer — Choreographed for over 30 films in various Indian languages
1970s-1980s
French connection period — Focused on teaching European students in Madras
1972
Received Kalaimamani award
1989
Received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Also demonstrated his style at the Parampara Seminar
1990
Received Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres — First Bharatanatyam guru from Tamil soil to receive this French honor
1992
Passed away — Died in Chennai
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Video Library
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Awards & Honors
- 1972 · Kalaimamani — Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram
- 1989 · Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi
- 1990 · Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres — Government of France
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