Mylai Karthikeyan
Mylai M Karthikeyan (Born: Jan 3, 1998) is a nadaswaram artist. (The nadaswaram - also spelled as nathaswaram, nadhaswaram, nataswaram - is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala).
Birth & Education
Mylai Karthikeyan was born on January 3rd 1998 to Mylai Mohanraj and Shanthi. He has a brother named Kannan. He completed his school education from Smt. Malathi Matric Higher Secondary School in Mylapore.
Karthikeyan then pursued a 3-year Diploma in Music at Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University in Adyar, where he passed the "Nadaswara Vadya Visarada" Certificate Examination as a "First Class - Distinction" student. In 2025, he received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Vocal Music from the same university.
Musical Work
Mylai Karthikeyan learned the Nadaswaram from his father Mylai Mohanraj at the age of eight. He was then trained by Vysarpadi G. Kothandaraman. He has been participating in concerts since the age of ten, playing the Nadaswaram in various concerts held in Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore. He performed at the 2020 Margazhi Utsavam event along with Mridangam scholar Karaikudi Mani.
Karthikeyan performed in a musical event held in Chennai in 2020 named "Beethovana Priya" that was coordinated by composer Ramesh Vinayagam, where Beethoven's popular composition 'Fur Elise' was rendered in the format of Kirtana, Raga, Swara, Kuraipu and Muthaiappu. In 2022, he collaborated with French musicians to create a fusion music event at the Chennai Music Academy.
Awards
- Kalki Krishnamurthy Award (2020)
- Shanmuga Sangeetha Sironmani (2021)
- Tamil Nadu Government Kalaivalamani (2021-22)
External Links
- Ragam: Behag - Nadaswaram Mylai M. Karthikeyan
- Ragam: Bageshri - Nadaswaram Mylai M. Karthikeyan
- Ragam: Sindhubhairavi - Nadaswaram Mylai Karthikeyan
- A chip off the old block - Mylai Karthikeyan is happy to continue the nadaswaram legacy of his father - The Hindu
✅Finalised Page
First published on: 24-Aug-2025, 22:49:40 IST
