| K. N. Dhandayuthapani Pillai | |
| Birth Date: | 1921 7, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Karikal (Karaikal), French India |
| Death Place: | Karaikal (Karikal), Pondicherry, India |
| Occupation: | Classical dancer Choreographer |
| Known For: | Bharatanatyam |
| Spouse: | Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai |
| Children: | Dr. Uma Anand |
| Awards: | Padma Shri Natyakala Chakravarthy Kalaimamani Natyakalanidhi |
Karaikal Natesa Dhandayudhapani Pillai (born 14 July 1921, Karaikal - 1974) was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, considered by many as one of the leading exponents of the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. He was also a teacher and trained multiple performers.
Born on 14 July 1921 in Karaikal in French India (nowadays the Indian union territory of Pondicherry), to A. K. Natesa Pillai, a known musician, he started training initially in music under his father, but later turned to Bharatanatyam and learned under his grandfather, who was a teacher of the dance form.[1] Subsequently, he joined Kalakshetra of Rukmini Devi Arundale as a teacher where he taught for a number of years. He was known to have authored several compositions for Bharatanatyam[2] [3] and trained many students; Jaya Gowri (Malaysia), Sri Vidya, J. Jayalalithaa, Hema Rajagopalan, Suganthi Sadayane, Nayana Shenoy,[4] Adyar K. Lakshman,[5] Uma Muralikrishna,[6] Vijayalakshmi Shetty-Ahuja,[7] Jayalakshmi Alva[8] and Geeta Chandran[9] are some of the notable ones among them. He was the dance choreographer of a number of films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi such as Raja Guruvu,[10] Man-Mauji, Chhaya, Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam and Bhai-Bhai.[11] He also founded Sri Rama Nataka Niketan, a dance academy in Chennai in 1967.[12] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1971, for his contributions to Dance.[13]
His wife, Chandra Dhandayudhapani Pillai, is a known Bharatanatyam expert and teacher[14] Her younger Sister Suria Santhanam also a noted Bharatanatyam teacher for 35 Years.[15]
He went to an eye operation in America. Following his return on 4 October, he attended his student's graduation ceremony. Later he had chest pain and was admitted to the hospital. On 12 October he died.
Sri Thandauthapanipillai was a famous bharathanatyam dancer as wells as a professional vocalist. He was born into a musical family. His grandfather was called Ramakrishnan, who was a great Bharathanaatyam artist.