Renowned nagaswaram player Semponnarkoil S.R.G. Rajanna passed away on December 17, 2025, in Chennai. He was 93.
Rajanna performed along with his elder brother, S.R.G. Sambandam (1921-2010). The brothers propagated the Semponnarkoil tradition, which included the rakti melam, performing in various venues in India and abroad.
Vidvan Rajanna was conferred the Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan Award (first nagawaram artist to receive this award) from Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai in 2023.
He was the recipient of the TTK Award from the Music Academy in 2018.
Following is the Citation printed in the Souvenir of The Music Academy when vidvan S.R.G. Rajanna received the T.T.K. Award for Excellence in 2018.
S.R.G. Rajanna
Born on February 14, 1932 at Mayiladuthurai to S.R. Govindasami Pillai and Thangathammal, Rajanna belongs to the famed Semponnarkoil lineage of nagaswaram performers, tracing his descent on the paternal side through seven generations of exponents. On his mother’s side, he is descended from Ashtavadhani Pandanainallur Guruswami Pillai, a percussion wizard.
Rajanna had his tutelage from the age of 11, learning from his maternal uncles Pandanainallur Govindasami Pillai and Venugopala Pillai. He later trained under his stepbrother Kunchitapadam and brother Sambandam. It was with the latter that he paired and became one of the Semponnarkoil Brothers. Their forte among other aspects was the rendition of the Mallari.
The duo soon became a favourite of all the Saivite mutts of the Thanjavur region. The Mahaperiyava of Kanchi bestowed his blessings on them by inviting them to perform frequently. They had the opportunity to perform at various places in India and also the Far East. A recipient of the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu (1980), Rajanna has also been conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Tagore Award (2012). The Music Academy, Madras, takes pleasure in conferring the TTK Award on him.
