Sri T.V. Sankaranarayanan was born at Mayiladuturai , Thanjavur district. At the age of nine, he started learning music from his uncle, Madurai Mani Ayyar .

Awards and honours

• Ganakalaratnam by Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar in 1987
• Gayaka Sikhamani by Bhairavi, USA in 1981
• Swara Laya Ratnakara by Ramakrishnananda Saraswati of Sri Vidyasram, Rishikesh in 1986
• Nadakanal By Nadakanal, Madras in 1987
• Innisai Perarasu By Bharati Kalamandram, Toronto in 1981
• Sangeetha Ratnakara By Vassar College in 1975