Mridangam exponent Guruvayur Dorai, who has been honoured with Padma Shri is one of the senior-most Mridangam artists in the country.

Born in 1935 at Guruvayur to G.S. Krishna Iyer and Meenakshi, Guruvayur Dorai had his initial training under Palghat Subba Iyer and E.P. Narayana Pisharody, and later from the legendary master Palani Subramaniam Pillai.

Exponent of Pudukottai style of mridangam, he initiated his concert performances at very tender age of eight. He had performed with legends like Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi and M.D. Ramanathan at the very early state of his career itself.

His sister Guruvayur Ponnammal is a highly reputed singer and his brother, G.K. Rajamani, is a famous violinist.