Handmade in India

VEENA-STRING INSTRUMENT
THE VEENA IS A STRING instrument,about 1.5 m
long,which belongs to the Carnatic tradition of Indian classical
music,played with accompaniments.Veena-making has been
practiced in Thanjavur for over many generations.The pot-like
shape of the veena is hollowed out from pala maram or jack
wood,using the kolavu uli,round chisel.A circular piece of
wood is stuck to this hollowed shape to cover it.Over the
length of the Veena,where the strings are to be attached,the 24
mettus, metal frets made of brass/bell metal are embedded in a
hard-ened mixture of beeswax and charcoal powder called
gaadi sakai.The upper circumference of the pot-shape of the
veena
is decorated by inlay work.These decorative techniques which
have succumbed to commercial pressures,need to be returnedd
to their original.Traditional decorations along the edges and
over the face of the resonator were once crafted out of ivory or
maan kombhu(deer antlers)but are nowadays replaced by
coloured vinyl.The tambura,a chordaphone belonging to the
lute family,which is an accompaniment in musical recitals,is
also made similarly.
1. A close
up of the
pot-shape
of the
veena
decorated
with a
plastic
transfer
of floral
designs.
2. Veenas
on
display.
3. Drilling
holes on
the neck
of the
veena.
Production Clusters
Thanjavur district:
Thanjavur
Products
Types of veena:
Ekandum and ottu
Tambura-drone
instrument
Tools
Mulai mattam-set
square
Types of ulis
(chisels):
Madal uli, sirruli,
china uli, elappuli
malugu uli
Hand drilling tool
NADASWARAM-WIND INSTRUMENT
NADASWARAM,also called nagaswaram,is one of the most popular
classical instruments of south India and the world`s loudest non-brass
acoustic instrument.It is a wind instrument of north India,but with a large
flaring bell,sometimes in metal.It may be swung through the air while
playing,creating a doppler effect.It has a simple double reed.It is
considered a very auspicious instrument and is played in temples and at
weddings.This traditional art of playing the nadaswaram has
developed along with Carnatic music which is a part
of the cultural tradition in Thanjavur.The wood is
used to carve out the mouth of the instrument,which
is called the anasu,through which the sound
emanates.A flat edged chisel and hammer are used
to the kendai,a small metallic cylinder on the top
part of the nadaswaram.
Production clusters
Thanjavur district:
Narasingapettai
Products
Nadasvaram in
different pitches
Toolsq
Drilling tools
1. An unfinished tavil,a percussion instrument also made by the same craftsmen.The tavil, and the nadaswaram are essential to temple festivals.
2. Seevali-the mouth piece of the nadasvaram.
3. The pieces used to make the seevali.
4. Nadaswaram.