‘Bani’ is the South-Indian term for Dance heritage i.e. the teachers/gurus genealogy. The characteristics of the different Banis are the particular styles in Dance and Music connected to it. The music differs mainly in the passed down Sollukattu phrases. The most prominent Bharata Natyam styles are: Melathoor, Vadavoor & Pandanalloor. The Cheyyur Bani has many common characteristics with the Pandanalloor style.
The Cheyyur style of Bharata Natyam is attributed to Cheyyur S. Manikyam (Manikkam). He learned this art form from his father S.S. Sundareshan who was already a dance teacher and a nattuvanar. Both of them were teaching several well-known dancers of that era. They hailed from the town Cheyyur, about 100 km south of Madras (Chennai).
Cheyyur S. Manikyam was teaching in Madras until the end of his life. His main disciple was P. S. Ramaswamy, a brahmin from the small town Pattakudi (Pathagudi).
Pathagudi S. Ramaswamy was studying in Pondicherry, today’s Puducherry. He began his training in 1945 in gurukula vasa with Cheyyur S. Manikyam. As a gifted singer, he soon started accompanying his guru on stage. After his guru expired in 1952, he took over the teaching of his students.
The Cheyyur Manikyam Bani was continued by P.S. Ramaswamy as a professional hereditary dance teacher and nattuvanar. He soon started to accompany many dancers as a nattuvanar. He remained loyal to this tradition till the end of his life, teaching, choreographing and being a Bharata Natyam accompanist to his very few selected students.
