His family, which belongs to the Isai Vellalar community, hails from the Tiruvalaputur village in the Mayiladudurai taluk of the Tanjore district.
He accompanied vocalists like M.S.Subbulakshmi, N.C.Vasanthakokilam, Madurai Somu etc., As a child, Pillai was from his young age interested in the Arts and turned his attention towards dance right from childhood .
To learn Bharatanatyam, he became a disciple of the guru Panthanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, spending more than 12 years in his gurukulam.
He was involved in the Indian independence movement, but refused to accept the concessions meant for freedom fighters.
Pillai received the Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu Government under the chief minister Annadurai.