The region of Ramanathapuram was economically depressed and lacking in education, as a result of repression under the British Raj.
Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan, a disciple of Ramanathapuram C. S. Sankarasivam, who in turn is a disciple of Muthiah Bhagavatar has composed a thillana in Niroshta "tanana dhirana" in Adi Tala.