Wednesday, November 16 2005 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Noted Nadaswaram vidwan (expert) A V Selvaratnam Pillai passed away after a brief illness last night (Nov 15, 2005) at Andan Koil village in Tiruvarur district.

He was 71 and survived by a son, family sources said. Selvaratnam hailed from a family of musicians and started playing Nadaswaram from the age of seven.

He was taught Nadaswaram by his father, the late Veerasamy Pillai, himself a prominent Nadaswaram player of yesteryears.

Selvaratnam Pillai had given performances all over the country.

He was also a recipient of the 'Kalaimamani' (great artist) title, conferred by the Tamil Nadu government.