His ancestors lived initially in Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) and later in Raja Hiranya Garba Thirumalai Sethupathi's village in Perungarai (Ramanathapuram).
He composed mainly in the Tamil language and used the mudra Kavi Kunjara Dasan in tribute to his grandfather.
While studying his BA in English Literature in Trichy, Koteeswara Iyer started performing in small Kutcheries singing Kavi Kunjara Bharathi's Skanda Puranam, Perinba Keerthanaigal.
He published his grand father's works (Kandapuranam, Azhagar Kuravanji, Perinba Keerthanaigal).
A final closure song to close the series, traditionally called the Mangalam is also composed in Surutti set to Adi tala.