Thanjavur K.P. Sivanandam (1917–2003) was a Carnatic veena player and also a descendant of the Tanjore Quartet.^[1]

Sivanandam was born into a musical family as the second son of Thanjavur K. Ponniah Pillai, a scholar and musician. He received training in vocal music and Bharatanatyam from his grandfather, Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai, and his father. He studied veena under Vidwans Desamangalam Subrahmanya Iyer and Gomati Sankara Iyer. Sivanandam earned the Sangita Bhushanam degree from Annamalai University.^[1]

At 21, Sivanandam began his career as a lecturer in music at Annamalai University, where he taught for 11 years. He later joined the Tamil Nadu Government's Department of Music as a professor for two decades. In 1980, he founded the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where he was Honorary Principal.

Sivanandam played a pivotal role in preserving traditional musical compositions. He wrote several influential works, including Natya Isai Karuvoolam, Thanjai Peruvudaiyan Perisai, and Adi Bharata Kala Manjari,^[2] which have become essential resources for students and practitioners of Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.^{[citation needed]}

Sivanandam received several awards:

• Sangita Kalanidhi (1992) from the Madras Music Academy.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1980) from India's National Academy for Music, Dance, and Drama.
• Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu government.

He was married to Sarada Sivanandam, who was also a veena artist, and they have performed together.^[3] Sivanandam passed away on July 30, 2003. ^[1][4]

• Carnatic Music
• List of Carnatic composers
• List of Carnatic instrumentalists
• Trinity of Carnatic music