M.M. DanDapaaNi DEshikar - (August 27,1908 - June26, 1972 ) Dandapani Desikar was a supremo for decades in the field of devotional tamil songs and dominated several fields of activities like singing of tamil devotional songs, teaching, films, etc. He enjoyed a rich, absorbing voice and style best suited for tamil devotional pieces and he appeared just when Tamil Isai also was in its stride. Born at the pilgrim centre, Tiruchengattangudi near Nannilam, of Muthiah Desikhar, he studied at the pial-school at Poovanur and learnt Thevaram and music under his father as well as Manicka Desikhar, Sattayappa Nayanakarar and Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai. He was very popular and widely respected for his attainments, musical compositions and contribution to the spread of tamil music.

He made his debut at Tirumarugal, noted for its Saivite shrine and for its brilliant nagaswaram maestro Natesan. He was teacher from his eighteenth year at the Okkur Lakshmanan Chettiar Thevara Patasala for ten years and was Professor and Head of the Department of Music, Annamalai University for fifteen years. He was giving concerts.

He has published on behalf of the Annamalai University and the Tamil Isai Sangam, songs of Bharati, Padinalvar, Thevaram, Divya Prabandam and Tirupugazh in 'Isai Tamizh Paamalai'. He has included his own compositions also. He has acted in a number of films like Pattinathar, Vallala Maharajan, Manickavachakar, Thayumanavar, Nandanar and Thirumazhisai Alwar. His chaste pronounciation, sweet voice and steady tempo, spiritual and devotional songs and devout rendition helped him and the films in gaining high popularity.

Honours and titles include 'Isai Arasu', 'Pandisai Pulavar Kone', 'Thevara Mani', 'Sangita Sahitya Siromani', 'Tirumurai Kalanidhi', 'Thandaka Vendhu', 'Pannisai Vendhan', 'Isai Pulavar', 'Kalaimamani' from the Tamil nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram, 'Isai Perarignar' from the Tamil Isai Sangam and 'Sangita Natak Academy Award'.

Mudra:

Compositions:

1. aDiyEnaik-kAttaruLvAi - kAmbhOji
   
2. AkkamumE tarum - kadaram
   
3. amaidi aDaindAl - cakravAka
   
4. Anai mukhattOnE - dEvamanOhari
   
5. anbu koNDennai - Arabhi
   
6. ANDaruLvAi - gauLa
   
7. anjezhuttinai nenjilE - raagavinOdini
   
8. aNNAmalai aNNalE - madhyamAvati
   
9. aruL uruvAnaavan - kalyANadAyini
   
10. aruLa vENdum - sAramati
    
11. aruLvAi angayarkkaNNiyE - dharmavati
    
12. AruyirAm tamizh - tODi
    
13. avaiyarindu pEsha - vandanadhAriNi
    
14. eddishaiyum pOTrum - mOhana
    
15. ellAm shei - kIravANi
    
16. en tAyE - rEvagupti
    
17. enai nI maravAdE - amrtavarSaNi
    
18. engum nirainda - jaganmOhini
    
19. ennai ANDaruLvAi - bEgaDa
    
20. EzhishaiyAghiya - kalyANi
    
21. innuruvAi viLangum - tODi
    
22. iraivanaip-paNIndEttuvOm - kalyANi
    
23. ishaiyin ellaiyai - shubhapantuvaraaLi
    
24. kaDavuL aruLai - kIravANi
    
25. kaDavuLai maravAdE - tANDavam
    
26. kalaimagalE ennai kattaruL - sarasvati
    
27. kallAdavariDam - shuddhasAvEri
    
28. kaTrOr vazhi - jayantasEnA
    
29. kuTram illAmalE - kalyANi
    
30. mATSi mighunda - hindOLa
    
31. muruganai nI - vishArada
    
32. nal vAzhkaiyE - kOkila
    
33. nAvukkarashanai - hEmavati
    
34. oruvaraiyum - kArmukhavati
    
35. Oshai oliyellAm - SaNmukhapriyA
    
36. pADa vENDumE - hamsanAda
    
37. pADi magizhndiDuvOm - jIvantikA
    
38. paN porundum - kalyANi
    
39. panniru kai - hamsAnandi
    
40. pugazhait-tEDi - kannaDa
    
41. sinam aDaiyAdE - bahudAri
    
42. tamizh mozhiyai - sAmA
    
43. tirupati malaiyurai - sarasAngi
    
44. unmai pEshuvOm - aabhOgi
    
45. unnaiyanri uTra tuNai - bhavAni
    
46. vaLLaL aNNAmalaiyE - pUrvikalyANi
    
47. vanjam nira - urmikA
    
48. varuvAi angayarkkaNNiyE - shankarAbharaNa
    
49. vAzhiya EzhishaiyE - bhairavi
    
50. vAzhndiDuvOm - Arabhi
    
51. vElanai nI - AndOLikA
    
52. yAzhin inimai - shuddhadhanyAsi