At sixteen, he moved to Chennai, the cultural hub of Carnatic music, and performed widely in all prestigious Sabhās and organizations.

Sri Bakthavathsalam was interested in spirituality from a young age and visited several religious ashrams and mutts in South India.

He has accompanied three generations of musicians throughout his career and has represented India in numerous cross-continent and cross-cultural festivals across the globe as an ambassador of Indian Classical Music.

Dr. Bakthavathsalam has played in several fundraising concerts for various social and national causes, such as the Kargil Fund and organizations like the Shankara Nethralaya and the Cancer Society.

His contribution to classical Carnatic music in the last fifty years has been tremendous, and he hopes to continue this worthy effort in the future for the benefit of society.

In May 2010, during the 68th birthday celebrations of Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, a unique musical presentation called "Laya Madhura Mridanga Yagna" was organized at the Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysore.

Ravi Shankar invited him to join his ensemble for an international tour after hearing him play at the Music Academy in Chennai.

Sri Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam is the founder and director of the Laya Madhuraa School of Music, which has its headquarters in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The school was inaugurated in 2000 with the aim of nurturing and training young talents in Mrudangam, the mother of percussion in the field of South Indian Carnatic Music.

Laya Madhuraa School of Music is presently working on conceptualizing innovative percussion ideologies and introducing the nuances of Layam and Nadhaam of the Mrudangam even to a common man to realise the values of Indian traditional arts.