Question

Statement-I: Needamangalam Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was a well-known Mridangam player.
Statement-II: Palaghat Mani Iyer was a Ghatam player.
Choose the correct option:

• A. Statement-I and II are false.
• B. Statement-I is true and II is false.
• C. Statement-I is false and II is true.
• D. Statement-I and II are true.

Hint:

Palghat Mani Iyer was a Mridangam legend, not a Ghatam artist—Needamangalam Pillai was also a Mridangam stalwart.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Statement-I: True

Needamangalam Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was a distinguished Mridangam vidwan.
He was a celebrated teacher and artist who mentored numerous significant percussionists.
Statement-II: False

Palghat Mani Iyer was a celebrated Mridangam maestro, not a Ghatam player.
He transformed mridangam performance in the 20th century and is regarded as one of the preeminent percussionists in Carnatic music history.
Therefore, Statement-I alone is accurate.