History And Construction Of Kanjira Musical Instrument
 History
- Kanjira, Khanjira, Khanjiri or Ganjira, a South Indian frame drum, is an instrument of the tambourine family. As a folk and hymn instrument, it has been used in India for many centuries.
- Manapundiya Pillai is credited with the emergence of the kanjira in South Indian Carnatic music as well as the development of the modern form of the instrument.
- In the 1880s, Manapoondiya Pillai was a temple lantern-bearer who sought to study drumming. He modified it into a frame drum with a pair of jingles and brought the instrument to a classical stage.
- It is mainly used as an accompaniment to the kanjira in concerts of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music).
Construction
- Similar to the western tambourine, it consists of a circular frame made of jackfruit tree wood, between 7 and 9 inches in width and 2 to 4 inches in depth.
- It is covered on one side with a drumhead made of monitor lizard skin (specifically the Bengal monitor, Varanus bengalensis, now an endangered species in India), while the other side is left open.
- Traditional lizard skins are banned around the world due to species conservation regulations. However, well-known kanjira players also attest to the great benefits of using goat skin as a substitute.
- After playing for a while, goatskin becomes more and more flexible and offers a wide range of possible modulations.
- The frame consists of a single slit in which three to four small metal discs (often old coins) are placed which are struck when the kanjira is struck.
Playing
- Kanjira is a relatively difficult Indian drum, instrument used in Indian music, especially in South Indian Carnatic music.
- It is usually played with the palm and fingers of the right hand, while the left hand supports the drum.
- The fingers of the left hand can be used to bend the pitch by applying pressure near the outer rim. Unlike kanjira or ghatam, it is not tuned to any particular pitch.
- Usually, without tuning, it has a very high pitched sound. To obtain a good bass sound, the performer reduces the tension on the drumhead by spraying water inside the instrument.
- This process may need to be repeated during a concert to maintain good sound.
- However, if the instrument is too damp, it will have a dead tone, which will require 5-10 minutes to dry.
- Tone is also affected by outdoor temperature and humidity conditions. Artists usually carry a few kanjiras so that they can have at least one in perfect condition at any given time.
Material
- Jackfruit tree wood, lizard skin, goat skin, metal.
Kanjira Player
- G. Harishankar
- V. Nagarajan
- C. P. Vyasa Vittala
- Bangalore Amrit
- B. Shree Sundarkumar
- V. Selvaganesh
- A.S.N.Swamy
- B.S. Purushotham
- G. Guru Prasanna
- N. Ganesh Kumar
- S Sunil Kumar
- Nerkunam Sankar
- Anirudh Athreya
- Hariharasharma
- KV Gopalakrishnan
- Sunaad Anoor
Kanjira’s Question Answer-
Kanjira is made of which metal?
Kanjira is made of jackfruit tree wood, lizard skin, goat skin, metal.
In which state is Kanjira played?
Kanjira is played in South India.
By what other names is Kanjira known?
Kanjira is also known as Khanjira, Khanjiri or Ganjira.
What is the width and depth of Kanjira?
The width ranges from 7 to 9 inches and the depth from 2 to 4 inches.
