Kumbakonam M Rajappa Iyer

Kumbakonam M Rajappa Iyer was a Mridangam Vidwam in the field of Carnatic music from India. He was born in 1916 at Kumbakonam to Muthuswamy Iyer and Sitalakshmi Ammal.

Rajappa Iyer underwent “Gurukulavasam” under Kumbakonam Alaga Nambi Pillai.

After the demise of Pillai, Rajappa Iyer pursued his Mridangam education with Sakkottai Rangu Iyengar.

Rajappa Iyer accompanied on Mridangam and Ghatam for stalwarts like Ariyakudi, Sivan, T. K. Rangachari, M. D. Ramanathan, Dr. Balamurali Krishna, Chittibabu, Lalgudi G Jayaraman, Ramani and many others apart from giving many lec-dems on mridangam and ghatam playing techniques. Rajappa Iyer formulated unique style of teaching in which the lessons were systematically arranged with focus on fingering techniques. His style of Carnatic music is known as the "Rajappa Iyer School".

Rajappa Iyer received many titles and honours:

• Layavadya Kovidha
• Nadha Kanal
• Mridanga Laya Mani
• Sangeetha Seva Niratha
• DKJ Memorial award
• TTK Memorial award
• Sangeetha Kala Acharya from Music Academy (2001)
• Asthana Vidwan - Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam

Layodaya celebrated the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Rajappa Iyer on October 6–8, 2016 at Vani Mahal.

Rajappa Iyer has taught many popular Mridangam players. His disciples include well known professional artistes on the mridangam and ghatam: K R Ganesh (Son), Srimushnam Raja Rao, Balashankar. Umayalpuram Mali, Umayalpuram V. Kalyanaraman, Palani Kumar, Ganapathy Raman, Vijay Siva, Manoj Siva, Madipakkam Murali, Adambakkam Shankar, and Kalakkadu Srinivasan.