Fiddle Ponnusamy - Shankari Natyasthal - Vaggeyakara Utsavam - Ep 05

The Indian pronunciation of Fiddle meaning Violin, in those days, sounded something like "Phidayle". Ponnusamy is a proficient violinist and therefore was popularly known as Fiddle Ponnusamy or Violin Ponnuswamy.
His actual name is Muthialpet Ponnuswami Pillai, as he hailed from a place in Chennapatnam (now Chennai) called Muthialpet.
Ponnuswamy is one of the prime disciples of the famous Vaggeyakara Tiruvottiyur Veena Kuppayyer, who in turn is a direct disciple of Tyagaraja.
It is also said that he was a contemporary and a close associate of Veena Dhanammal and Nellayappa Nattuvanar.
Ponnuswamy’s Tana varnam in Kambhoji ragam is perhaps the only composition that is very popular and known to the world of Carnatic music.
From the life stories of Veena Kuppayer and his son Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyer, it appears that Tyagayyer had his initial training in music from his father, and later became a disciple of Fiddle Ponnuswami. A very little is known about this Vaggeyakara and his compositions.
Students of Shankari Natyasthal are presenting this varnam. They have recorded this from their respective homes amidst tremendous academic pressure.