Coin45bazzar at 08:56, 14 February 2026

2026-02-14T08:56:02Z

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{{Short description|Indian singer and actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
'''M M Dhandapani Desikar''' (August 27, 1908 – June 26, 1972) was a [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] vocalist, actor and composer.<ref name="Commune 2022 k075">{{cite web | last=Commune | first=The | title=MM Dhandapani Desikar: A Carnatic Music Doyen | website=The Commune | date=27 Aug 2022 | url=https://thecommunemag.com/mm-dhandappani-desikar-a-carnatic-music-doyen/ | access-date=31 Jul 2023}}</ref>

'Isai Arasu' Dhandapani Desikar was born in Tiruchengattangudi, near [[Nannilam]] in [[Madras Presidency]]. He got training from Manicka Desikar and [[Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai]]. He was the son of Madurai Muthaiya Desikar and Pappammal. He gave his first performance in Tirumarugal. He was a Professor and Head of the Department of Music, [[Annamalai University]] for fifteen years. He acted in Tamil films including [[Nandanar]] which was produced by [[S. S. Vasan]].

Desikar is one of those singers who have performed full-fledged [[Tirukkural]] concerts.{{sfn|Rangan, ''The Hindu'', 19 March 2016}} [[P. Muthukumaraswamy Sarma]] was a student of Desikar.<ref name="The Times of India 2019 q731">{{cite web | title=Disciple who popularized Desikar's legacy | website=The Times of India | date=2 Jul 2019 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/disciple-who-popularized-desikars-legacy/articleshow/70135065.cms | access-date=31 Jul 2023}}</ref>

==Music==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|Song
! scope="col"|Raagam
! scope="col"|Thalam
|-
!scope="row" |
Adiyenai kattu arulvai angayarkkanni
| Kambhoji
| T/Triputa-
|-
!scope="row" | Akkamume tarum anbai arindidil
| Kadaram
| Adi
|-
!scope="row" |
"Thunbam Nergayil" (lyrics by [[Bharathidasan]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sriramv.com/2018/04/19/bharathidasan-dandapani-desigar-and-the-travancore-sisters/ |title=Bharathidasan, Dandapani Desigar and the Travancore Sisters |author=Sriram V |date=2018-04-19 |website=Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music |access-date=2023-01-11}}</ref>
| [[Desh (raga)|Desh]]
| Adi
|-
|}

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|Film
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Role
! scope="col"|Director
! scope="col"|Producer
! Scope="col"|Notes
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Pattinathar (1936 film)|Pattinathar]]''
| ''1937''
| ''Pattinathar''
|
|
| Life story of Saint Pattinathar, the copy of this film is not available, except a small portion
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Thayumanavar (1938 film)|Thayumanavar]]''
| ''1938''
| ''Thayumanavar''
| ''[[T. R. Sundaram]]''
| ''[[T. R. Sundaram]]''
| Life story of [[Thayumanavar]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Manickavasagar (film)|Manickavasagar]]''
| ''1939''
| ''Manickavasagar''
| ''[[T. R. Sundaram]]''
| ''V. S. M. Gopala Krishnaiyer''
| Life story of Saint [[Manikkavacakar|Manickavasagar]]
|-
!scope="row" | ''[[Nandanar (1942 film) |Nandanar]]''
| ''1942''
| ''Nandanaar''
| '' Murugadasa''
| ''[[S.S.Vasan]]''
| ''A bhakti film playing the life of harijan saint Nandanar and immense hit.''
|}

==Awards==
* [[Sangeetha Kalasikhamani]], 1955 by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite news | last = Rangan | first = Baradwaj | title = A musical bridge across eras | newspaper =The Hindu| publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 19 March 2016 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/baradwaj-rangan-on-how-chitravina-n-ravikiran-is-setting-the-tirukkural-to-tune/article8374601.ece | access-date = 29 July 2018|ref={{sfnRef|Rangan, ''The Hindu'', 19 March 2016}}}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://carnatica.net/composer/dandapanidesikar.htm Short profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204085749/http://www.chennaionline.com/music/Carnaticmusic/2004/09mmddesikar.asp M Dandapani Desikar]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081225010344/http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/ThamizhSongs/2004/song13.asp M M Dandapani]
*[https://www.saigan.com/heritage/music/garlandd.htm Profile of artists]
*[https://www.carnaticcorner.com/articles/dandapani.txt M. M. Dandapani Desikar's Compositions]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dandapani Desikar, M M}}
[[Category:Male Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Annamalai University]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

{{india-musician-stub}}

Dandapani Desikar - Revision history

Coin45bazzar at 08:56, 14 February 2026