According to scholar Rangaramanuja Iyengar, Madurai Pushpavanam was “a handsome stripling with a curious coiffure that subsequently became the fashion among his fans, clad in spotless white muslin with loose sleeves flying about, with eyes closed and the music! What an intoxicating voice, responding readily, with incredible ease and grace, to the surging crescendo of ravishing, sophisticated music conjured up from a highly imaginative mind! And how the audience rocked and swayed as if in a trance”

Pushpavanam was a disciple of Ettayapuram Ramachandra Bhagavatar. He was adept at ragam-tanam-pallavi, kritis and swara prastara, enjoying great popularity. His music was imaginative and delivered effortlessly.

Pushpavanam died young but left an undying name in the field of Carnatic music.

His daughter Rajam was a talented vocalist and Sangita Kalanidhi Madurai Mani Iyer was his nephew.