Coimbatore Thayi

🪔 About

Coimbatore Thayi, born Palanikunjaram in 1872, was an Indian musician from a family of devadasis in Coimbatore. Her mother, Vengamaal, was a celebrated singer, and her grandmother, Coimbatore Visalakshi, was a renowned Sadir (the precursor to Bharatanatyam) artist. Thayi was introduced to Sadir and music at a young age, receiving her initial training from her mother. She performed her first classical dance, an arangetram, at the age of 11. She underwent rigorous training in both music and dance, and also learned Kannada songs from Mysore Kempe Gowda. In the 1890s, her family relocated to Madras (now Chennai), where Thayi eventually ceased dancing to concentrate exclusively on music. In Madras, she was befriended and taught by Veena Dhanammal. Coimbatore Thayi rose to prominence as a Carnatic singer, becoming one of The Gramophone Company's most popular artists. She recorded approximately 60 songs in a single session in 1910 and produced nearly 300 records throughout her career, which were bestsellers and topped HMV's popularity charts for many years. Her extensive repertoire included compositions by the Trinity of Carnatic music, as well as padams, javalis, and Tamil devotional songs. Her musical talent was recognized in 1914 when the people of Coimbatore honored her with a golden bracelet adorned with diamonds and emeralds. Thayi passed away in 1917 at the age of 44. Awards & Honours: Golden bracelet encrusted with diamonds and emeralds (1914).