The name ‘Karaikudi’ became associated with the lineage in the seventh generation when the brothers Subbarama Iyer (1875–1936) and Sambasiva Iyer (1888–1958) rose to prominence in the city Karaikudi.

 

As the British Empire extended its control during the first half of the twentieth century, the royal courts of India’s smaller states could no longer afford to sustain the arts. This political shift affected artists across the country, including Subbarama Iyer and Sambasiva Iyer, who lost royal patronage. Consequently, they left Thirugokarnam, moving first to Madurai and eventually settling in Karaikudi. The Nattukkottai Chettiyars of Karaikudi together with other merchants offered them patronage, enabling the brothers to re-establish themselves. Celebrated as highly acclaimed performers, they brought the tradition to the forefront of the Karnatak concert stage. As torchbearers of the lineage, they became widely recognised as the ‘Karaikudi vina brothers’ and from this point onwards the lineage became known as the Karaikudi vina tradition with its exponents referred to as Karaikudi vina players.

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The Karaikudi tradition represents a composite style of vina playing and shared foundational practices collectively known as the Karaikudi vina bani.​