Artist Information Mridanga Vidwan Poongulam S. Subramanian was born in the year 1966. His father, Maha Vidwan Poongulam R. Sabesaiyer, was also a well-known mridangam vidwan. Subramanian started his sikshya with his father. Later he shifted to Chennai, from Kumbakonam, and was a student of Srimushnam Raja Rao for nine years.   Poongulam Subramanian has won the hearts of many by his accompaniment skills. He has travelled widely both in India and abroad. In 1991, he got the 'best percussionist' award from YACM. He has also been honoured by Vasantha Priya (1992) and Krishna Gana Sabha (1993). The other awards include Yuva Kala Bharathi (Bharat Kalachar), Full Prince (Muzhu Ilavarasu - Tamil Isai Mandram,Thiruvaiyaru), Laya Gana Sudaroli (Kumbakonam).   He has made successful concert tours to Oman, Sri Lanka, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bahrain, etc. He has been showered with lavish praise for his accompaniment and his distinct style.   The well known critic Subbudu, had this to say, "Poongulam Subramanian is literally toying with the mridangam. One is awe struck by the music that comes out of his mridangam, the way it comes out. He is an eminent percussionist. When he is playing it looks like his hands are under some spell! Like Ramabadran and Umayalpuram, Poongulam's fingers too have a special bonding with his mridangam, and the music that comes out is top class. He is admired by his fans. He gets the nod of the critics also."   A resident of Chennai, Poongulam Subramanian is a full-time, professional musician.