The term Tanjore Quartet refers to the four brothers who were Nattuvanārs and Dance masters at the royal court of Serfoji II in Tanjore, in the early 19th Century. While they excelled in the art of Bharathanātyam, they have also authored a number of Thāna varṇams and Kritis. The brothers Chinnayya Piḷḷai (1802–1856), Ponnayya Piḷḷai (1804–1864), Sivānandam Piḷḷai (1808–1863) and Vaḍivelu Piḷḷai (1810–1845) were employed in the courts of the Marāṭha king Serfoji II at Thanjāvūr. Tanjore quartet are also known as Thanjai Nālvar. Thanjai refers to Thanjāvūr or Tanjore and Nālvar refers to quartet (4 brothers).