Madras A. Kannan was a Mridangam exponent from Tamil Nadu, India. Due to his outstanding performances in the field of percussion, he is often called as the Mrudanga Samrat which literally means "Emperor of Mridangam".[1] He received several awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Kalaimamani.
Biography
A. Kannan was born in 1920 in Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu. At the age of six, he learned Mridangam from Peetambara Desai.[2] Later he became a disciple of Thanjavur Ramadas Rao.[2] Although he studied Veena and Carnatic music with Mridangam, he established himself only in Mridangam.[2] His father Adhimoolam who played a major role in grooming him, was instrumental in making him concentrate only in mridangam.[3] At the age of 12, he recited the Mridangam in front of Maharaja Krishna Rajendra Wadiyar at the Mysore Palace.[4] In 1981, he was appointed as a state artiste by Tamil Nadu government.[4]
Kannan has worked as a staff artist at All India Radio, Chennai and has also taught at the College of Music, Annamalai University and various private institutions.[5] He has performed in various stages and provided extensive training to students, including sixth-generation students from South Africa.[4]