Percussion instruments ~ Thavil & Chenda melam !!

 

In Temples, in marriages and in many traditional places, we are used to hearing mangala isai in Nadaswaram to the accompaniment of “Thavil” -    a powerful, barrel-shaped percussion instrument.  Here is Thiruvallikkeni vidwans playing Thavil and Nadaswaram at Thavana uthsava bungalow during purappadu.

 

Unlikely you may have heard this Malayalam song sung by K Jesudoss yettan :

 

Charumukhi usha mandam – maaraleelaa lolayaayi

Thannude sundara nandanaseemani – chennithu manmadha chinthayil muzhuki

Poothavalli nikunjathil – kaathirunnithanirudhan

 

The instrument “Thavil” is either played while sitting, or hung by a cloth strap (called nadai) from the shoulder of the player. The right head is played with the right hand, wrist and fingers. The player usually wears thumb caps on all the fingers of the right hand, made of hardened glue from maida flour. The left head is played with a short, thick stick made from the wood of the portia tree. It is not uncommon for left-handed players to use the opposite hands, and some nadaswaram groups feature both a right- and a left-handed thavil player 

The thavil consists of a cylindrical shell hollowed out of a solid block of jackfruit wood. Layers of animal skin, water buffalo on the bigger opening (high sound) and goat on the smaller opening (low sound), are stretched across the sides of the shell using hemp hoops attached to the shell. The right face of the instrument has a larger diameter than the left side, and the right drum head is stretched very tightly, while the left drum head is kept loose to allow pitch bending. The larger face is higher in pitch than the smaller face.  

Thavil is a traditional musical instrument of the ancient city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. It is an integral part of the Carnatic music in Thanjavur. It is mostly made in Thanjavur and Valayapatti.  

A thavil (தவில்) or tavil is a barrel-shaped percussion instrument.   The thavil and the nadaswaram are essential components of traditional festivals and ceremonies in South India.  Notable Tamil movies featuring Thavil include : "Thillaanaa Mohanambal", "Paruthiveeran", "Karagattakaran", "Sarvam Thaala Mayam".

 

The item pictured here  is a Chenda – melam, a traditional percussion instrument commonly used in Kerala. It is a cylindrical percussion instrument crafted from wood, with leather or parchment stretched over the ends.  The Chenda is essential in Kerala's temple rituals, cultural festivities, and classical dance forms. It produces a resonant, powerful sound and is played using sticks.  Chenda playing is most commonly categorized by its ensemble styles, known as Melams, and solo performances. There are seven classical types of melams, with Panchari and Pandi being the most prominent.   

The song at the start featured in movie ‘Chenda’ released in 1973,  directed and produced by A. Vincent. The film starred Madhu, Srividya, Sukumari, Sudheer and Kaviyoor Ponnamma.    The music was composed by G. Devarajan  with this particular song sung by mercurial K Jesudoss

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
17.3.2026