There are many variants of the instrument, including longer and shorter versions, curved or straight and the outer pipe may be made of metal or wood.

[3][4] சங்கொடு தாரை காளந் தழங்கொலி முழங்கு பேரி வெங்குரற் பம்பை கண்டை வியன்றுடி திமிலைதட்டி பொங்கொலிச் சின்ன மெல்லாம்பொருபடை மிடைந்தபொற்பின் மங்குல்வான் கிளர்ச்சி நாண மருங்கெழுந் தியம்பி மல்க Tamil pronunciation: [əŋgoɖʉ t̪ɑːɾəj kɑːɭən t̪əɻəŋgolɪˑ mʊɻəŋgʉ peːɾɪ ʋɛŋgʉɾər pəmbəj kəɳɖəj ʋɪjənd̺ʳʉɖɪˑ t̪ɪmɪləjd̪əʈʈɪ poŋgolɪtʃ tʃɪnnə mɛllɑːmboɾʉbəɖəj mɪɖəjn̪d̪əborpɪn məŋgʉlʋɑːn kɪɭərtʃtʃɪˑ nɑːɳə məɾʉŋgɛɻʉn t̪ɪjəmbɪˑ məlgə] When sage Agastya propagated the details of Siddha medicine to the other sages, he was welcomed by a procession with music including the traditional tharai.

The curved version like a "s" is generally made of a metal or alloy like brass similar to Kombu.

[7] It may also be a longitudinal thin cylinder like a pole with up to 12 ft (3.7 m) length, made up of wood, which produces a continuous sound if wind pressure is applied.

[18] Sangu ndha sekhandi tharai parai vathiyam Mangalamai muzhangida mahimayodu varugiraar Thongum meesai kathiyaam, thudikkum kannil sakthiyaam Ingithamai nethiyil olirum neeru venmayai The instrument is generally played with Thappattai, a traditional percussion instrument in Tamil festivals and folk arts and might be accompanied sometimes by other traditional instruments such as Urumi melam in Kerala and Naiyandi melam.