The Thanjavur Bani takes us back to the illustrious Thanjavur royal court, where the descendants of the famed Thanjavur Quartet, four brothers who were musicians and dance composers, left an indelible mark on the art form in the early 19th century. It was within these hallowed courtly precincts that the present-day Margam, or repertoire of Bharatanatyam, was meticulously crafted. The Bharatanatyam imparted by the legendary Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, himself a descendant of the Thanjavur Quartet, in Pandanallur village, earned the name "Pandanallur School of Bharatanatyam."

Kandappa Pillai, another descendant of the Tanjore Quartet, distinguished himself with lightning-fast nritta (pure dance) and spontaneous abhinaya (expression). He gave dancers the freedom to explore the stage while depicting abhinaya, emphasizing the role of music and rhythm. For instance, during jatis or teermanams, the singers and instrumentalists continued their melodic journey while the nattuvanaar recited the sollukattu, creating an exquisite synergy of sound and movement. Kitappa Pillai, Kandappa Pillai's cousin, followed this innovative path.