Born in 1928 in Madurai in a family of classical musicians, Shri Madurai N Krishnan was initiated in Carnatic vocal music by his grandfather Madurai Srinivasa Ayyangar. He later attended the Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras, and still later was a student of Ariya- kudi Ramanuja Ayyangar. Shri Madurai N. Krishnan has enriched Bharatanatyam dance with a large number of varnams, padams, jathiswarams and javalis. For his varied contribu- tions to Carnatic music he was honoured by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram in 1982. For his eminence in music and his contribution to its enrichment Shri Madurai N Krishnan receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Carnatic vocal music.