Guruvayur Dorai, one of the most respected mridangam players in Carnatic music, passed away at the age of 92. The mridangam is the principal percussion instrument that accompanies Carnatic concerts, and Dorai was regarded as a senior master of the art over a career spanning several decades. His contribution to Indian classical music was recognised with the Padma Shri, one of the country's highest civilian honours, along with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award given by the national academy for performing arts, and the Kalaimamani Award conferred by the Government of Tamil Nadu.