Carnatic percussionist Tiruchi R. Thayumanavan passes away

Tiruchi R. Thayumanavan, an exponent of the mridangam, kanjira, and konakkol, died after a brief illness in the city on Friday at the age of 95.

Family sources told The Hindu that the vidwan had not been keeping well since early this year and had been recently admitted to hospital for treatment.

Born in Kottaiyur, Kumbakonam, on September 11, 1931 as the third of four sons to violin exponent S. Raju and Thaiyyalnayagi, the young Thayumanavan showed an early aptitude for rhythm (layam). He insisted on learning the mridangam rather than become a singer or violinist like his brothers R. Govindaswamy, R. Thangavelu, and R. Balasundaram.