Noted mridangam player Guruvayur Dorai, who accompanied seven generations of musicians, beginning with Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, died on Saturday, following age-related complications. He was 92 and is survived by his wife and daughter.

Dorai evolved a distinctive style, blending his own technique with lessons learnt from the late Palani Subramania Pillai. His gumkis were particularly admired. In the 1940s, he accompanied his sister, Guruvayur Ponnammal, as a vocalist and a mridangam player. He performed with all the leading musicians of his time and was M.S. Subbulakshmi’s regular mridangam accompanist for many years.

Dorai developed an interest in layam (rhythm) at a very young age. His father, concerned about his physical disability — Dorai had been affected by polio — persuaded Palghat Subbaiyar, who had accompanied Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar for a concert, to teach him mridangam.

“He taught me a few lessons, which I repeated without mistakes. He was impressed with my ability,” Dorai recalled in an interview with Parivadini, an organisation that promotes music, particularly nagaswaram and thavil traditions. He later learnt from Narayana Pisharody.

Dorai acknowledged the role played by Chembai in shaping his career. At the age of eight, he accompanied Chembai in a concert that marked his arangetram (debut performance). It was Chembai who later helped him learn from Palani Subramania Pillai, who had visited Thirupunthura for a concert. After moving to Chennai, Dorai approached Pillai to study under him. However, Pillai was initially hesitant as the finger techniques of his school differed from those Dorai had already adopted. Pillai’s wife, Kolar Rajam, persuaded him to teach Dorai.

Humble and unassuming, Dorai trained many students. Music historian Lalitharam recalled that after an enthralling concert at the Music Academy, Dorai travelled to Thiruvaiyaru to participate in the Thyagaraja Aradhana, taking an ordinary bus. “I could not bring myself to talk to him. Later, when I met him, he rendered a brief alapana in Sri raga and sang Kamalambike,” Lalitharam said. Dorai received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Kalaimamani award, and the Padma Shri.