Tanjore Śrī Vādīvelu (of the Tanjore Quartet)

Tanjore Śrī Vādīvelu Pillai (c. early 19th century) was the youngest among the famous Tanjore Quartet (Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Sivanandam, and Vadivelu), who were prime disciples of Muttusvāmi Dīkshitar and key architects of modern Bharatanatyam repertoire and concert format. Though best known for his role in choreography and dance music compositions, his training under Dīkshitar deeply influenced his musical sensibilities, integrating raga structure, rhythmic precision, and graceful presentation. Through him and his brothers, the violin was incorporated more fully into Carnatic contexts, popularising instrumental elaboration and ensemble cohesion. Their compositions consisting of varnams, padams, jatiswarams, and tillanas remain standards in dance and music today, reflecting Dīkshitar’s structural and stylistic influence on South Indian arts.