Chenda

It is greatly identified as a cultural element in Kerala and Tulu Nadu.

The skin are dried in the shade and fastened on wooden rings (Chenda Vattam, ചെണ്ട വട്ടം) made of the trunk of a locally available palm tree (Eeranpana) or bamboo, using a gum prepared from the seed of a tree called "pananchi maram".

The circular frame is kept in a vessel, boiled for an entire day and then bent in the form of circle and dried.

Only the wooden rings with the skin (Chenda Vattam) are replaced once the quality of the sound is not up to the mark.

For regular Chenda artists an average of 15 rings are required every year.

[citation needed] The Chenda is mainly played in Hindu temple festivals and as an accompaniment in the religious art forms of Kerala.

The chenda is used as an accompaniment for Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Kannyar Kali, Theyyam and among many forms of dances and rituals in Kerala.

It is also played in a dance-drama called Yakshagana (Tenku Thittu) which is popular in Tulu Nadu in Karnataka.

There is a variant of this instrument used in northern school of Yakshagana called Chande.

It is traditionally considered to be an Asura Vadyam ((demonic instrument)) which means it cannot go in harmony.

Chenda is an inevitable musical instrument in all form of cultural activities in Kerala.

In Kerala the craft of making Chenda is now associated with some few "Perumkollan" (smith) families at Peruvembu, Nemmara, Lakkidi, Vellarkad and Valappaya villages.

The artist produce sound on "Uruttu Chenda" by rolling his right hand wrist.

The artist produce sound on "Veekku Chenda" by hitting the drum using a stick without twisting or rolling his wrist.

The Chenda is used as a percussion instrument for almost all Kerala art forms like Kathakali, Kodiyattam, Theyyam etc.

A Chenda is taught in a traditional way, the students have to practice on a stone or wood using a strong and thick stick usually made of tamarind tree bark.

Once the learning on stone is finished, students learn on Veekku Chenda (വീക് ചെണ്ട) or the Valam Thala (വലം തല) part of the Chenda which is made of multiple layer of skin.

The "Valam Thala Chenda" is played using a long and thin stick.

For a "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam the "Onnam Kaalam" is 3 beats in a geometric speed.

"Vaai Thari" (വായി താരി), the drum like sound made by the student while beating on the Chenda.

A "Kalam" starts with an "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) or the first degree of geometric speed.