Venu
Encyclopedia
The venu is a bamboo
transverse flute used in the Carnatic music
of South India
. Although it is often called Carnatic flute or simply flute in English
, venu is the instrument's ancient Sanskrit
name. It is also called by various other names in the languages of South India
, including pullankuzhal (புல்லாங்குழல்) in Tamil
and also in പുല്ലാങ്കുഴല്
(Malayalam
), and ಕೊಳಲು (koLalu) in Kannada. It is known as pillana grovi (పిల్లన గ్రోవి) in Telugu
(Andhra Pradesh). It is called Bansuri in Marathi
(Maharashtra), and is used extensively for Hindustani classical music. The flute (Venu) finds great mention in indian mythology and folklore having been listed as amongst the 3 Original Instruments meant for music along with the Veena and Mridangam ( Veena, Venu, Mridanga trinity). However it is strange that there is no name mentioned for the typical flute that the Lord plays.
One of the oldest musical instruments of India
, the instrument is a keyless transverse flute made of bamboo
. The fingers of both hands are used to close and open the holes. It has a blowing hole near one end, and eight closely placed finger holes. The instrument comes in various sizes.
The venu is associated with the Hindu
god Krishna
, who is often depicted playing it. This kind of flute is mainly used in South India.The Lord Vishnu is portrayed as Sri Venugopala - playing the flute of Creation.
The venu is capable of producing two and half octaves with the help of overblowing and cross fingering. The flute is like the human voice in that it is monophonous and also has the two and half octaves sound reproduction. Sliding the fingers on and off the holes allows for a great degree of ornamentation, important in the performance of raga
-based music.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
transverse flute used in the Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. Although it is often called Carnatic flute or simply flute in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, venu is the instrument's ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
name. It is also called by various other names in the languages of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, including pullankuzhal (புல்லாங்குழல்) in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and also in പുല്ലാങ്കുഴല്
(Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
), and ಕೊಳಲು (koLalu) in Kannada. It is known as pillana grovi (పిల్లన గ్రోవి) in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
(Andhra Pradesh). It is called Bansuri in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
(Maharashtra), and is used extensively for Hindustani classical music. The flute (Venu) finds great mention in indian mythology and folklore having been listed as amongst the 3 Original Instruments meant for music along with the Veena and Mridangam ( Veena, Venu, Mridanga trinity). However it is strange that there is no name mentioned for the typical flute that the Lord plays.
One of the oldest musical instruments of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the instrument is a keyless transverse flute made of bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. The fingers of both hands are used to close and open the holes. It has a blowing hole near one end, and eight closely placed finger holes. The instrument comes in various sizes.
The venu is associated with the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
god Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, who is often depicted playing it. This kind of flute is mainly used in South India.The Lord Vishnu is portrayed as Sri Venugopala - playing the flute of Creation.
The venu is capable of producing two and half octaves with the help of overblowing and cross fingering. The flute is like the human voice in that it is monophonous and also has the two and half octaves sound reproduction. Sliding the fingers on and off the holes allows for a great degree of ornamentation, important in the performance of raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
-based music.
Venu players of the past
- Palladam Sanjiva RaoPalladam Sanjiva RaoPalladam Sanjiva Rao was an Indian flautist and carnatic musician from the state of Tamil Nadu.- Personal life :Sanjiva Rao was born in 1882 in the town of Palladam near Coimbatore in a Thanjavur Marathi family...
- Kalaimamani Sri H. Ramachandra Shastry, a disciple of Palladam Sanjiva Rao.
- The late T. R. MahalingamT. R. Mahalingam (flautist)-External links:* * * *...
, a child venuist prodigy who started playing the flute at the age of five years. He is most popularly known as "Mali" or sometimes "Flute Mali." - Late Sri B.N. Suresh
- Late T. ViswanathanT. ViswanathanTanjore Viswanathan was a Carnatic musician specializing in the Carnatic flute and voice. His brother was the mridangam player T...
, grandson of Veena Dhanammal and brother of Balasaraswati - Late Sri T K Radhakrishnan, son of the Legendary composer Lalithadasar and disciple of Palladam Sanjiva Rao
- Late Sri T A Hariharan - Disciple of Sri T K Radhakrishnan and staff Artiste of AIR Chennai
- Late Sri Cochin Ranganathan known for his unique style of Swaraprastharas
Venu players of the present
- Sangeetha Kalaratna, Venugana Visharada, Vidwan B Shankar Rao (born 1922), largely self taught, great friend and informal student of Late Mali, has enriched the field of carnatic music for seven decades and continues to do so personally and through his students.
- Kalaimamani (1983) Sangeetha Nataka Academy Awardee Prof. (Dr. ) Prapancham Seetharaman, a child prodigy, Musicologist, a disciple of T.R. Mahalingam
- Padmashree Sikkil Sisters - Kunjumani & NeelaSikkil Sisters - Kunjumani & NeelaSikkil Kunjumani, the elder of the sisters, was born on June 15, 1930 and Sikkil Neela, the younger was born on September 6, 1940. Together they are more famously known as the Sikkil Sisters. Their father Azhiyur Natesa Iyer was a mridangist...
- Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. N. RamaniN. RamaniN. Ramani is a renowned Indian Carnatic flautist.-Early life and background:N. Ramani was born in Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. Aside from the influence of his place of birth, Ramani was born into a musical family...
http://fluteramani.com, disciple of T. R. Mahalingam - Sikkil Mala ChandrasekarSikkil Mala ChandrasekarSikkil Mala Chandrasekhar is a noted South Indian musician playing the flute. Mala Chandrasekhar was born to a musical family.Mala Chandrasekhar started learning from her aunt and mother Sikkil Sisters - Kunjumani & Neela...
- Kalaimamani Sri T S Sankaran - Disciple of T R Mahalingam
- S. ShashankShashank (musician)Shashank Subramanyam is a classical flautist of India. He was a child prodigy and started performing from his age of seven...
, a child venuist prodigy who started to play the flute at the age of six years and give his first concert performance at the age of twelve years. - Master Ambale Herambha & Ambale Hemantha(twin brothers), child prodigies who started to play flute at the age of seven years. Their first performance was at the age of ten years.
See also
- BansuriBansuriThe bansuri is a transverse alto flute of Bangladesh, India and Nepal made from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. An ancient musical instrument associated with cowherds and the pastoral tradition, it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha, and is...
: The bansuri from the Hindustani music tradition is a 7/8 holed flute. Lord Krishna was also known as Murali-dhara (one who is carrying Murali or flute) and Venu-gopala (Gopala playing the Venu) and the music from his flute was called as Venu Naadham. - Carnatic MusicCarnatic musicCarnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
- Hindustani Music