One of India’s most ancient drums, the mridangam (which literally means “body of clay”) originated in South India where it was widely appreciated in courtrooms of kingdoms. To this day, it remains the leading percussion accompaniment for Carnatic music – vocal and instrumental – as well as for all South Indian classical dances. A double-headed barrel-shaped drum, it is capable of producing an astonishing variety of sounds and tones making it the most lyrical of all Indian percussion instruments. As its name suggests, it used to be made of clay but is now usually made of a single, hollowed-out piece of wood.
M. BALACHANDAR - A talented performer and teacher, M. Balachandar has accompanied some of the greatest Indian classical musicians including sitar legend late Pandit Ravi Shankar and the famous Dr. Balamurali Krishna. Several of his former students have gone on to become successful professional artists including Pirashanna Thevarajah who has toured with sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
HE WILL BE TEACHING THE STYLE - PALANI STYLE (Pudukottai school)