Inside the Mridangam Maker's Workshop

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Feb 2007, 12:56

It's only three minutes, so don't expect any detail on mridangam manufacture, but here is a nice piece of film I learnt about from a Chennai blog site:

Dum Dum Dum, a documentary

Those who have never visited a mridangam shop will, at least, get some feel for what goes on there.

I don't know this shop, by the way, and I'm curious. I'm making a wild guess it is one of the ones near Vivekananda College?

I'm sure it won't be long, especially as we now have pro mridangists among us, before someone supplies the address

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 25 Feb 2007, 13:11

Nick, it is the same video as the one in the youtube link in the thread http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2113&p=2 . But it seems to be a better quality one. sankirnam will have more info since he wrote about this shop in that thread.

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 25 Feb 2007, 14:01

Very Nice. They do seem to play well inspite of their modest claims to the contrary.

param · Post by **param** » 25 Feb 2007, 20:21

Thanks to VK and Nick - I got a glimpse of our late Master.

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 25 Feb 2007, 20:34

Yes, it is next to Vivekananda College, however, I have temporarily forgotten the name of the street. The road looks very different in the video, it was not quite that broad, the street is actually quite narrow, and last summer the corporation was putting new tarmac on that street.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Feb 2007, 22:26

Could be Vera Perumal Koil St, then? The tiny lane parallel to the main road.

I think there are two or three mridangam makers in this area.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Feb 2007, 22:30

Gosh, VK.... I missed all those posts on the other thread! Interesting stuff!

Sorry to have posted the same thing again.

I tend to skip over youtube links as it does not work well for me.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 25 Feb 2007, 23:29

No problems Nick. The link you provided had better quality video in addition to being a non youtube link for those who have trouble with youtube.

ram · Post by **ram** » 15 Mar 2007, 08:54

Here is one on making tablas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfQQB-d7jd0

cameo · Post by **cameo** » 30 Dec 2008, 10:46

I have an old mridangam.Just that hollow wooden part in my house.My grandpas.I dont know to play.

Would like to know..Is it an easy job to put a new skin and other needed things on to that.. I mean is it worth renewing it,compared to buying a new one.?
If so, can someone help with a shop,in chennai where i can do it ,and approximate rates,

thnks and regards,

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 30 Dec 2008, 12:46

Yes, it is worth using that wood --- as with many musical instruments, old wood is better than new!

If you are a complete beginner then finding a teacher is more important than finding a mridangam maker --- your teacher will recommend the maker/repairer, and tell you how much you should pay.

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 30 Dec 2008, 21:18

A legacy like no other....

http://www.goergo.in/?m=200808&paged=3

msakella · Post by **msakella** » 31 Dec 2008, 06:58

Dear brother-member, cameo, You can contact the following address to get your Mridangam repaired or renewed:
R. SANKAR
OLD NO. 33 /4 NEW NO 69 APPARSAMY KOIL STREET,
MYLAPPORE,
CHENNAI - 600 004.
TEL - 044 - 24988835
MOBILE 98403 - 75743
EMAIL : nipponrs@hotmail.com

cameo · Post by **cameo** » 31 Dec 2008, 10:03

thank you very much nick H,erode14,msakellaji...
I'm on the job...