Lalgudi G. Jayaraman was a famous player of which instrument?

Explanation

Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman (1930-2013), popularly known as Lalgudi Jayaraman, was one of the greatest violinists of Carnatic music. He created a distinctive style of violin playing, known as the "Lalgudi bani", which is admired for its sweetness and its closeness to the human voice.

Lalgudi Jayaraman was born in Lalgudi, near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, into a family of musicians whose lineage is linked with the composer Tyagaraja. He learnt the violin from his father, V.R. Gopala Iyer, and began performing as an accompanist at the age of twelve. He accompanied almost all the great Carnatic vocalists of his time, such as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam and M. Balamuralikrishna. He later became famous as a solo performer, known for playing the words of the songs on the violin so clearly that listeners could almost hear the lyrics. He also composed many tillanas and varnams, which are popular with musicians and dancers. He received the Padma Shri (1972) and the Padma Bhushan (2001). He also won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the dance film "Sringaram". His son, G.J.R. Krishnan, and daughter, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, are also violinists.

The violin was introduced into Carnatic music in the early 19th century. In Carnatic music, it is played sitting down, with the scroll resting on the player's foot. Other famous Carnatic violinists include Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, T.N. Krishnan, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, L. Subramaniam and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.

Why not the other options?

Veena is the ancient stringed instrument of Carnatic music, linked with S. Balachander.

Flute is linked with T.R. Mahalingam and N. Ramani in Carnatic music.

Mridangam is the main drum of Carnatic music, linked with Palghat Mani Iyer.