Madhalam

The maddalam or madhalam is a drum made out of the wood of the jackfruit tree. It has two sides for playing, made out of leather, and has different kind of sounds on each side. The maddalam is a heavy instrument which is hung around the waist of the person playing, and the player stands all the while to perform.

The maddalam is a vital instrument in traditional Kerala percussion ensembles like Panchavadyam, Keli and Kathakali orchestra.

Masters of Maddalam

Prominent among today's maddalam exponents (in Panchavadyam) are Thrikkur Rajan, Cherpulassery Sivan, Thichur Vasu Varrier, Edappal Appunni Nair, Kunisseri Chandran, Chirakkala Sankara Marar, Pulappatta Balakrishnan (Kundalassery Thankamani), Sadanam Ramachandran, Kallekkulangara Krishna Varrier, Thrippalamunda Nataraja Varrier, Odakkali Sankaramani Marar, Chottanikkara Surendran, Kongad Sukumaran, Eravath Appu Marar, Kalamandalam Sasi, Peruvanam Haridas, Panangattukara Prakasan and Sadanam Bharatharajan. Kathakali has its maddalam maestros like Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambisan, Kalamandalam Sankara Varrier, Kalanilayam Eachara Varrier, Kalanilayam Babu, Kottakkal Ravi, Kalamandalam Ramadas, Kalamandalam Gopikuttan, Sadanam Sreedharan, Sadanam Rajan and Sadanam Devadas among others.

Noted maddalam exponents of yore include Thiruvillwamala Venkichan Swami, Vellattanhoor Raman Nambisan, Punnathur Madhavan Nair, Kadavallur Sankunni Nair, Aravindakshan, Kavungal Maniyan Panikkar, Kachamkurichi Achuthan Nair and Pulamanthol Gopalakrishnan. In Kathakali maddalam, Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval was a noted artiste.

Literature on Maddalam

Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier, famous maddalam maestro has published a book on Maddalam, "Maddalam Enna Mangala Vaadyam" in 2003 with the help of Kerala Kalamandalam. Also, maddalam finds prominent mention in a book "Thaalangal, Thaalavadyangal" by A.S.N. Nambisan.

ee also

* Pandi Melam
* Panchari melam
* Thayambaka
* Panchavadyam