Career
He had his initial training in Carnatic music from Simizhi Sundaram Iyer who was trained under gurus from the Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar lineages. Sundaram Iyer died in 1927, after which Govindaraja Pillai had his training under Mayavaram Boothalinga Iyer. Govindaraja Pillai once got a chance to sing before the violin maestro Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai.
The latter took him as his disciple for training as a violin instrumentalist.
His trained almost daily till until midnight or sometimes, beyond. His Guru, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai was a much sought-after accompanist by famous Carnatic singers like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Alathur Brothers, G. North. Balasubramaniam and Chittoor Subramania Pillai.
Govindaraja Pillai will sit by the side of his Guru when he accompanies the singers. In later days this helped him to adapt to their style when he himself accompanied the same Carnatic singers.
Once, when his Guru Rajamanickam Pillai fell ill, Govindaraja Pillai accompanied Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.
He handed over the payment to his Guru but the Guru refused to accept lieutenant Govindaraja Pillai gave the same money as Guru Dakshina on the following Vijayadasami day. Govindaraja Pillai never made use of the money paid as advance, until the program is over.
He was a lover of perfumes.
So was Carnatic singer G. North. Balasubramaniam and Mridangam maestro Pazhani Subramania Pillai. "lieutenant was said that when the three performed together, the concerts were sure to be scintillating and scentillating.
He has accompanied on the violin stalwarts like G. North. Balasubramaniam, Alathur Brothers, M. South. Subbulakshmi, Madurai Mani Iyer and others In particular, Govindaraja Pillai will rise to great heights when accompanying Madurai Mani Iyer"s weaving garlands of swaras.
He was a vidwan in Trivandrum palace.
Though he performed some solo concerts, he preferred to be an accompanist. Govindaraja Pillai was Dean of the Music College of the Annamalai University. Sikkil Bhaskaran and Kuththalam Vaidyalingam Pillai are his disciples who continue his legacy.
After suffering through an illness for a long time, Govindaraja Pillai died in his home at Mayavaram on February 11, 1979.
