 A traditional Parai (along withTharai) | |
| Other names | Thappattai |
|---|---|
| Classification | Percussion instruments |
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| Musical instruments |
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Parai also known asThappattai orThappu is a traditionalpercussion instrument fromSouth India, used to make announcements and played duringfestivals,folk dances,weddings andfunctions. It is played predominantly by theTamils inTamil Nadu, and in other regions with significant Tamil diaspora such asSri Lanka. Although there are many variants of the instrument, it generally consists of adrum made ofwood, open on one side and closed with a stretchedanimal hide on the other side along with twowooden sticks used for beating the drum.
The instrument finds mention in theSangam literature and has been used by theancient Tamil people. It is used as a part of parai attam, a traditionaldance form. While thappu was a similar instrument used by tribal people, with minor variations, the names were used interchangeably since the lateMiddle Ages. It might be played along withtharai, awoodwind instrument, in folk dances and festivities or accompanied by other traditional instruments in rituals and functions.
InTamil, the wordparai means "to speak" or "to tell".[1] The exact origin of the instrument is not clear. The instrument was one of theancient native music instruments developed and used by theTamil people.[2][3] Parai is mentioned inSangam literature and was used to make announcements, with the announcers termed asParaiyar.[4][5]Kuṟuntokai from the Sangam period mentions the usage of the parai instrument in auspicious occasions.[6][7] TheTirumurai, a twelve-volume compendium ofhymns dated from 6th to the 11th century CE, mentions the instrument.[8]
Parai attam is thedance form associated with the instrument and according toHindu mythology and folk stories, it is believed that the notes for the dance originated from godsShiva andParvati.[9]Thappu was a similar instrument which was used by tribals and in traditional Tamil dance forms but as parai was similar and also used to announce deaths and played infunerals, it was also called asthappu (meaning "inauspicious or wrong" in Tamil) probably during theNayak period in the 16th century CE.[10][11][4]
It consists of a shallow circular ring made ofwood of diameter 16–22 in (410–560 mm), made fromhardwood such as from thejack fruit tree.[12] It is open on one side and covered on the other by ananimal hide stretched over a wooden or metal ring, tightened to the wooden frame.[13] Earlier,hemp orjute was used to tie the skin to the ends but nowadaysleather straps and ropes are used withglues andnails.[12] Twowooden sticks are used for beating the drum. One of the sticks is longer and made ofbamboo, called asSundu Kuchi and another is a short, thick stick of any wood, called asAdi Kucchi.[14][13] The parai can be of various sizes and weights, often customized to the player and it may weigh from 1–5 kg (2.2–11.0 lb) with an average of around 3 kg (6.6 lb).[15][16] The instrument is called by various other names including murasu, kudamula and panchamukha vadhyam.[4]
Thappu was a similar percussion instrument with a smaller sized drum, used originally used by thetribal people for chasing awaywild animals.[4] Thappu was also traditionally used along withPuliyattam, a traditional dance form in which men wearing atigermasks dance to the drum beats.[4] Thappu was made from awater buffalo hide stretched over a wooden frame. There are two sticks similar to parai with one long, slender stick made of a specific type of bamboo (kalmungil) and another short, stubby stick made ofpurasu wood.[4] Parai was a drum that dates back to Sangam period and was in use for much longer.[4] In the later middle ages, the parai was also came to be known as Thappu and the words were started to be used interchangeably.[4]
There are also variations across regions and depending on usage. There is a larger version calledPeriya Parai orPerum Parai (Periya orPerum meaning "large" in Tamil), which is a fat, stockier double-sided drum, similar to aDhol orDholak.[17][12] This is a larger drum made of hollowed wood, about 30–40 in (760–1,020 mm) in length with a diameter of 10–20 in (250–510 mm) with a stretched goat skin used to close the sides.[12] Two sticks made ofpeepul tree or bamboo are used to beat the drum.[12] A variation of the equipment calledKinai Parai, essentially a larger drum hung from tree tops that would be played to announce an incoming battle or war.[4] The parai used inSri Lanka is a double-sided drum compared to a skinnier one-sided drum used in Tamil Nadu.[17] The Parai similar to the one used in Tamil Nadu is known by the name of Thappu in Sri Lanka.[17] Based on usage,Ariparai (Ari meaningbird in Tamil) was used to alert the birds nesting in the fields to fly to safety beforeharvesting.[7]Meenkotparai (Meen meaningfish in Tamil) was a variant used by the coastal people for selling their catch.[18]
In paraiattam (also calledthappattam), the player of the instrument is also the dancer.[19] The parai is slung by a cloth strap calledNadai (though leather straps are also used) over one shoulder vertically and is held between the other hand and the performer's body.[15][12] The harness and the holding position lets the player or drummer to play the instrument while dancing in different positions including standing or walking.[15][9] In a seated position, the parai is held on the lap.[12] The short stick is loosely held between the thumb and other fingers of the strong or dominant hand, positioned near the lower rim of the drum. The off or weak hand, which holds the long stick, rests on the upper part of the frame, positioned at a downward-pointing angle.[12] The base of the stick is gripped by the thumb and index fingers and balanced between the other fingers to be moved back and forth to beat the drum. There are three fundamental strokes from which all of the rhythmic patterns are derived: striking the center of the drum with the shorter stick; slapping the center of the drum with the long stick; and striking the drum with both sticks, the dominant immediately followed by the off.
The membrane istempered using heat generated from a smallbonfire and achieve corresponding variation of beats.[4] The tempering causes the moisture from the hide to evaporate, stiffening and tightening the membrane, which is essential to produce loud, high pitched beats.[15] It is considered a bad-omen if the hide becomes torn or there are black spots forming on he hide due to incorrect tempering.[14]
The dance contains numerous patterns which resemble the patterns of classical dances with the players swaying and stamping their feet in synchronization to the beat.[12] There is also a variation known asParai Meala Koothu, where many players stand facing each other and play to contrasting emotions.[12] There are five basic rhythms used in parai attam: Othayadi, Thenmangu, Saamiyaattam, Thullal and Uyirppu, but it may vary across regions.[9] There were 156 variations of drum beats oradi used for different purposes and for designating various emotions.[9] While the instrument was generally played by males, females have also been known to partake in the same.[17]
It is a traditional instrument used inSouth India, majorly by theTamil people inTamil Nadu,Sri Lanka and other regions with Tamil diaspora such asSouth East Asia andCaribbean.[17][20][21][22] The drums were used for multiple purposes including signaling people to gather, alerting them to upcomingwars and announcing victory or defeat, breach ofwater bodies, gathering farmers forfarming, warning aboutwild animals.[23] It is also commonly played duringfestivals,folk dances,weddings andfunctions.[24][20] The instrument is played inHindu templeprocessions accompanyingHindu gods and goddesses.[25] It is used in the worship of traditional Tamil deities likeMuneeswarar.[26]
The instrument is generally played withTharai, a traditionalwoodwind instrument in Tamil festivals and folk arts.[25][3][27] It might also be accompanied with other traditional instruments in functions and rituals.[27] Apart from the standalone parai attam dance, the instrument accompanies with the performance ofStreet theatre (therukoothu) and various folk dance forms such asKarakattam,Oyilattam etc.[28][20] It is also used as an accompaniment for thedappankuthu dance.[29] In the 21st century, variations and fusion of other music and dance forms with parai have been developed such asParai Bharatham, a fusion of parai music withBharatanatyam and mixtures with other western dance forms.[15][9]
The instrument is also played commonly in funerals which might have arisen from the practice of playing to ascertain the death if the person does not show any movement.[9] In the last century, the instrument became increasingly associated with funerals rather than auspicious occasions and became a symbol ofuntouchability and marginalization of Dalit communities.[30][31] In the recent years, there have been renewed interest in the instrument and movements to project it as a traditional instrument rather than an object of impunity.[30][15][9]
The instrument has also been played and showcased in urban festivals like theChennai Sangamam inChennai andTamil Thiruvizha inCoimbatore.[32][33]
TheEnglish wordparaiah, denoting anoutcast, was derived from the name of the instrument. In India, the people who played the instrument were mostly Dalits, who were known as Pariyar and the term was used earlier in a demeaning tone to describe the people by theBrahmins and other dominant castes.[31]
Tharai Thappattai was aTamil language film, directed byBala and released in 2016.[34] Itsmusic director,Ilaiyaraaja, is known to use traditional instruments including parai in the compositions.[35]
..Thaarai and thappattai, native instruments of Tamil people..
tharai, thappattai and kaithalam. They perform folk dances.
Some of their musical instruments are moolam, nayanam, kulal, tharai, ...
..taken to the temple in a big procession with mela dhalam, tharai thappatai and crackers.
such as Melam, Nathaswaram, Thavil, Parai, Thaarai, Thappattai, Urimi Melam, Naiyandi Melam and Band etc.
performances like silambam, oyilattam, poi kaal attam, parai and tharai thappattai, among others.
He used authentic instruments like tharai and thappattai (Parai drums)..
