Master Traditional Kerala Instruments in Bengaluru
While the Chenda defines our roar, the true soul of our melam lies in the harmony of Ilathaalam, Kurum Kuzhal, and Edakka. Learn the complete temple ensemble with us.
The piercing, melodic notes of the Kurum Kuzhal, played by Kalavadhyam Rajesh T N, cut through the powerful rhythm of the Panchari Melam during the Peruvanam Pooram.
The steady, shining sound of the Ilathaalam (cymbals) is the backbone of the melam. Here, Kalavadhyam Mani Narayanan provides the unwavering rhythm during a performance.
Announcing the Kurum Kuzhal Arangettam of our first batch of students. We are proud to see our students, including young girls, master this traditional wind instrument.
A historic moment for our academy: the first-ever Ilathaalam Arangettam of our students, including three talented women, at the Kollur Sree Mookambika Temple.
Meet the Ilathalam artists of Kalavadhyam. This team provides the crucial, unwavering rhythmic foundation for all our melam performances.
A close-up of Kalavadhyam Mani Narayanan on the Ilathaalam. His focused expression shows the concentration required to hold the rhythm for the entire ensemble.
The soulful sound of the Kurumkuzhal, played by Kalavadhyam Rajesh T N. This wind instrument brings a layer of melody that weaves through the percussion.
We are thrilled to announce the first Kuzhal Batch Arangettam at Kollur Mookambika Temple. Our students are trained under the guidance of Gurunaadhan Shri. Kalavadhyam Rajesh TN.
Students learning the Ilathaalam during a Panchari Melam practice session. Every instrument in the ensemble is given dedicated focus at our academy.
About Beyond the Chenda: Our Instrument Offerings
Mastering instruments like the Ilathaalam or Kurum Kuzhal requires a different kind of patience than the Chenda. Here, you start with Saadhakam on practice blocks to internalize the rhythmic cycles before touching the actual instrument, ensuring your foundation is as steady as the ensemble you will eventually join.
At Kalavadhyam, we believe that a true practitioner understands the entire scope of the Kshethra Vaadhyam (temple percussion) ensemble. While the Chenda provides the thunder, the Ilathaalam acts as the spine of the rhythm, and the Kurum Kuzhal weaves the melody.
We offer dedicated training tracks for:
- Ilathaalam: Learn the precision required to hold the tempo for the entire melam. This is the heartbeat of our performance.
- Kurum Kuzhal & Kombu: Master the wind instruments that bring the emotional, devotional melody to our temple performances.
- Sopana Sangeetham with Edakka: Explore the nuanced, devotional style of Kerala’s heritage music, focusing on the Edakka drum's subtle, speech-like tonality.
Our training follows the traditional Gurukulam methodology. Whether you are at our centres in Ramamurthy Nagar, Sarjapur Road, or Vidyaranyapura, or joining our online modules, you receive direct guidance from Gurunaadhan Shri Dheeraj Edat and his senior assistants. We do not rush the process. Just like our students who prepare for their Arangettam (debut performance) at Kollur Mookambika Temple, you will learn the techniques used by professional artists at major festivals like Peruvanam Pooram. By focusing on the structural role of each instrument, you gain a deeper understanding of how these sounds combine to create the 'simha garjjanam' (lion's roar) that defines our style.
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