Friday Review
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Some missing facts
The picture that accompanied the write-up on mizhavu was edakka. The picture here depicts an artist playing the mizhavu (second left at the back). In this connection Vallathol Janardana Menon, Chennai, writes, the mizhavu is an accompanying instrum
ent during the Chakyar Koothu.
And he adds: In the article on Chenda, ‘For battle scene,’ Friday Review, November 2, a few facts are missing. Chenda is basically an ‘Anushtana Vadya’ meaning it is played during the temple rituals of Kerala and is an ‘Asura Vadya’ vis-À-vis other ‘deva vadyas’ like edakka and mridangam.
Chenda was adopted to be played for Kathakali and other folk arts of Kerala. Regarding the make of the instrument, the two leather coverings on both sides are held against the wooden body by leather straps only and not by jute straps, to ensure strength and safety.
In playing the instrument, it is not always that two sticks are used. The best and varied sounds of the chenda are obtained by beating one end with a stick and the other end with plain hand or fingers. This method is always used by artists while playing ‘Thayambaka’ a kind of percussion. The quality of a chenda does not depend on its weight as held out in the article.
A chenda usually weighs less than 10 kg. It is slung around the shoulders of the player and not around the neck.
And among the names of eminent artists, the name of Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, the leading artist in the Trichur Pooram festival is conspicuous by its absence.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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