Thanthi Panai, a composite musical instrument that is rare, is played by the Mallas community of Tamil Nadu. Made from a baked clay pitcher with laced open, amicably the animal skin-cover, and has a steel string passing through the middle of the skin, emerging from a hole at the bottom and tying it to peg on a bird-shape wooden holder, it is a traditional earthenware item.
It is played sitting down with the instrument placed on one's lap. The left hand strikes the "drumhead," while the right-hand fingers pluck the string such that the end result is a mixture of percussive and stringed sounds. This strange technique produces a unique tonal quality, and thus places an emphasis on a most important portion in tribal music, ritualistic performances, and folk traditions.
Casting a sound of the festival or ceremony or even telling stories, 'Thanthi Panai' would narrate the musical ingenuity of the aboriginal tribes here in Tamil Nadu. The fine example of this handmade instrument emphasizes sustainable craftsmanship seen among tribal artisans along with the strong root of culture within it. Steeped in history, this instrument is little known beyond its tribal confines.