Sastri was born on 27 November 1893 to Ramaswamy Ganapadigal and Balambal Lakshmi in Therizhandur near Mayuram (also known as Māyavaram, present-day Mayilāduthurai) in Tamil Nadu.

Later, the lure of English education led him to become a student at the Municipal High School in Mayuram.

He had a high-pitched voice and, in due course, he attracted the attention of the local Vidvans (Maestros) who recognized his musical talent.

In the meantime, he gained proficiency in Harmonium playing and became acquainted with Alathur Venkatesa Iyer.

The burning desire in him that he should become a full-fledged musician made him approach Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar for a Vidya guru (teacher).

[1] He also had music training under Dasavadyam Venkatarama Iyengar of Devakottai and later under Simizhi Sundaram Iyer.

In 1926, Kadalangudi Natesha Shastri published Sastri's first book of songs "Valli Parinaya Manipravala Satakam".

A committee of three judges - Tiger Varadachariar, T. L. Venkatarama Iyer and Jalatharangam Ramaniah Chettiar, adjudged his Sanskrit Kriti "Kamithe Karunanvite" in praise of 'Bharatha Matha' (Mother India) in Todi Raga as the best.

He was awarded a prize amount of Rs.100/-, a princely sum in those days, and was felicitated at a public function for musicians and music lovers.

In 1933, Swami Balananda Sarasvati of Kadirkamam, in Sri Lanka (Ceylon in those days), highly impressed with the devotional character of his songs, helped him to publish the book "Murugan Pugazh Paamalai" which contained songs in praise of Lord Muruga .

In 1940, he published the book "Murugan Madhura Kirtanai" consisting of 60 songs on Lord Muruga.

In 1947, a booklet of songs in Tamil for Independence Day 'Desiya Jaya Geetham' was published.

The songs are in simple flowing language, set in well-known Hindustani ragas like Behag, Bhimpalas, Bilaval.

He has composed a set of five songs called "Balar Pancharatnam" in Sanskrit, for children that forms a prayer.

The manuscript collection also includes 8 songs on Shirdi Sai Baba, which has come out as a CD in 2007.

Others included Karaikal Ammayar, Virata Parva, Santha Kumari, and Mithra Vijayam.

Vallabham Kalyanasundaram was an accomplished singer and recognized as 'Vidushi' for her depth of knowledge in Carnatic Music.