Chenda

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The Chenda is a cylindrical drum from Kerala, India. In the coastal Karnataka region (Tulu Nadu) it is called chende. It is closely tied to the culture of both Kerala and Tulu Nadu and is mainly used in temple festivals and many traditional art forms.

The drum has two skins. The left head, called Edamthala, is thinner, and the right head, called Valamthala, has more layers for a deeper bass. The skins are dried in the shade and stretched over wooden rings (Chenda Vattam) with a gum made from local tree seeds. The body is made from jackfruit wood and is tuned to give a bright, loud sound.

Two main kinds of playing parts help shape the sound. The Veekku Chenda (right head) provides the bass and is played with a straight stick. The Uruttu Chenda (left head) produces varied sounds and leads the rhythm; its name means "rolling," because players roll their wrist to create movement in the beat.

Chenda Melam means playing with the Chenda. It is a central part of Kerala culture and accompanies many forms such as Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Theyyam, and Yakshagana (in Tulu Nadu). Some styles use thinner skins for the classical pieces, while others use tougher skins for different kinds of performances.

The Chenda is made by a few traditional craft families in villages like Peruvembu, Nemmara, Lakkidi, Vellarkad, and Valappaya. The village Chenda from Vellarkad is especially famous for its quality.

There are many sizes of Chenda, chosen for different roles in performances. Chenda is also used in a drum ensemble called Chenda Melam, which includes several styles such as Panchari, Champa, Chempada, Adantha, Anchadatha, Druvam, and Pandi; two additional forms are Navam and Kalpam. Shingari Melam is another form but is not considered classical.

Learning a Chenda follows a traditional path. Beginners start with Ganapathi Kai, a 37-beat prayer. Then they practice Sadhakam, a series of rhythmic exercises based on cycles called kalams. The basic cycle is Onnam Kaalam (the first, a 3-beat pattern). As players gain speed, they move through Randam Kaalam, Moonam Kaalam, Naalam Kaalam, and beyond, with tempo measured by the thalam or thalavattam—the time it takes to complete the cycle. The right hand (Veekku) and left hand (Uruttu) work together to build the music, starting with simple strokes and advancing to complex rhythms.

In short, the Chenda is a powerful, two-headed drum that drives Kerala’s and Tulu Nadu’s traditional music and dance, with a rich history, varied sizes, and a controlled system of rhythm and learning.