Mrudanga for Female Pitch S.R.I -G, with carry bag

01

The drum heads use skins of goat, cow, and buffalo

No animal skins are used as the drum heads are synthetic

Ethical, as no animals are harmed

02

Shells are made of wood

Shells are made of fiberglass

Environmentally friendly, as no trees are required to be cut

03

Weight is typically more than 10 kgs

Weight is typically 4.5 to 5 kgs

Light weight and highly travel friendly. At the same time it is not too light so as to cause the Mrudanga to move and roll during playing.

04

Pitch may sometimes change suddenly due to variation in temperature and humidity

Pitch does not vary appreciably with temperature and humidity

No need for frequent retuning during a performance

05

Tonal qualities vary from instrument to instrument

Excellent tonal clarity, sustain, and resonance

Consistent tonal quality

06

Difficult to tune over a wide tuning range

Can be tuned over a range unachievable in the traditional Mrudanga

Wide tuning range

07

Karane is made of boiled rice and other materials like iron powder. The adhesion of the Karane to the skin is through the starch which acts like a glue. This necessitates the frequent replacement of the Karane.

The Karane is chemically bonded to the drum head membrane so that it does not fall off or wither away with time

This eliminates the need for Karane replacement. The head is also impervious to hand sweat.

08

Heads are fixed to the shell permanently. So re-heading the shell has to be done only by a Mrudanga craftsman.

Heads are detachable and assembling the drum heads is very simple

If the heads get worn out they can be easily replaced by the users themselves

09

In case of the nut bolt Mrudanga, the hooks project out of the shell; they may hurt the fingers while playing

The nuts and bolts are placed in a way that they are completely non obstructive. Furthermore, the tuning hardware, except the tuning nut that needs access, is completely covered and protected.

Aesthetic appearance with complete protection for hands while playing

10

For the left side, a semolina paste needs to be applied at the centre of the head. This limits the playing area and may stick to the fingers and become messy

The loading of the left head is done from within, thereby providing a larger playing area and without the mess of semolina paste sticking to the fingers.

As the semolina paste is completely eliminated, it: a. Provides larger playing area b. Provides protection from messing up with the sticky paste c. Saves time

11

Heads cannot be cleaned easily

Heads can be cleaned with a moist cloth

Heads can be cleaned with a moist cloth, which is unthinkable in the case of the animal skin heads