The Anai Ayya brothers were close contemporaries of the Trinity of Carnatic Music and especially had a closer and good rapport with the great composer Saint Tyagaraja.
According to an oral tradition, the music of the Anai Ayya brothers attracted even the venomous cobras.
This is a fitting testimony to the greatness of their music and the treasure of their impeccable voice (saareera sampath).
[1] Some of their popular compositions include Bhajana Seyave O Manasaa (Kedaram), Amba nannu Brovave (Todi), Intha paraakaa (Naadhanaamakriya, janya of Mayamalavagowla), Paruvam paarkka nyaayamaa (Dhanyasi), Sharanu sharanu (Senchurutti), Etthanaithaan Vitthai Kattraalum (Anandabhairavi), Kaana Kannaayiram Venum (Neelambari), Yeliyenai Marandha (Yadukulakamboji), Vidhi Illaarkku (Kharaharapriya), Varmamaa Enmeedhil (Saveri) and Mahima theliya tharamaa (Sankarabharanam).
The festival attracted thousands of participants from the surrounding villages across the Thanjavur Delta region along the mighty River Kaveri.
One of the last contributions that T. Viswanathan and T. Sankaran made to Carnatic music was to edit the available compositions of the Anai Ayya brothers (published by Brihaddhvani).