What is this instrument?

[smala]

Haven't seen this before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPIAr_ZXlrA

[Pratyaksham Bala]

It is Roland Percussion Pad.

Check this:
http://www.roland.com/video/page.cfm?id=20940357002

[Nick H]

Haven't seen this before.

You have been well insulated from electronic instruments!

Whilst I don't particularly welcome either acoustic drum kits or electronic drum pads in carnatic music, I have to admit that I'm impressed by the playing that I saw here. I only watched for a minute or two, but the set up and playing of the machine, including gumaka and fingering seemed more "real" than I have seen in a drum pad before. Maybe I've only seen drum pads adding the western touch to acoustic mridangam and tabla

[rshankar]

Percussion pads and the like are becoming very popular with dance orchestras. With some of them, sounds like wind and rain can also be created, adding to the dramatic effect. Now, IMO, these special effects are unnecessary, if the dancer can evoke them on stage...

[Nick H]

...and the musicians are clever with their instruments