Muthu Thandavar (1525–1600 CE) (Tamil:முத்துத்தாண்டவர்) was composer of Carnatic music. He lived in the town of Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. His contributions to Carnatic music have been largely forgotten and not many of his kritis are in vogue today. Muthu Thandavar, along with Arunachala Kavi (1712–1779) and Marimutthu Pillai (1717–1787) are known as the Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music.[1]
Muthu Thandavar also composed several padams, short songs mainly sung accompanying Bharatanatyam performances.[1] Some of these padams are still popular such as Teruvil Varano in raga Khamas and Ittanai tulambaramo in raga Dhanyasi.