Narayanaswamy's major break came at a Madras Music Academy concert in 1951, when he was unexpectedly forced to substitute for his guru, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar who was not in a position to attend the conference under unforeseen circumstances.
The event that propelled Narayanaswamy to prominence was a performance at the Madras Music Academy in 1951 where he filled in for his guru, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, who couldn't attend due to unexpected issues.