Re: Mridangam repair shops in Chennai

Amraman · Post by **Amraman** » 18 Apr 2007, 23:15

Can anyone recommend a good mridangam repair place in chennai. The black top needs to be replaced.
Any help and direction will be much appreciated.
Thank you
Ambika

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 18 Apr 2007, 23:55

Oh, several!

My guruji gets his heads made by a man called Arogyam near Vivekananda College (Just North of Luz Church Road.

A friend of mine gets his instruments made my a guy on Warren Road (South of Ranga Rd; North of St Mary Road) --- he likes his instruments to have good ringing chapu sound, and this man's work suits him well.

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 19 Apr 2007, 00:10

There are several in the area around Vivekananda college... if you saw the mrudangam repairing video in one of the other threads here, the man in that video is Johnson, a famous reparier here, he is the man who makes the vaadyams for UKS sir and my guru. His shop is on Apparswamy Koil street (it is very very narrow), and his shop is in the middle of the street, look carefully for it.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 19 Apr 2007, 06:35

There is a shop in Mathala Narayana Street ( kind of continuation of East Mada Street where it meets North Mada Street) in Mylapore....perhaps the oldest mridangam repair place in Chennai.

Amraman · Post by **Amraman** » 19 Apr 2007, 06:36

Is it possible to get an address. My friend is not familiar with Chennai. Or is there any way he can contact one of you for further details.
Thanks for all the help
Ambika

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 19 Apr 2007, 09:35

I have marked the street that Sam Swaminathan mentioned in Google maps. Hope it shows properly for you. Your friend should not have a problem locating the place with this map.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&q=my ... e3ac80b7c5

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 19 Apr 2007, 15:09

VK's map is Perfect !!! Any auto fellow could take your friend there.

Amraman · Post by **Amraman** » 19 Apr 2007, 19:34

I have forwarded the map to my friend. Its perfect and he should find it very useful. Thank you all once again
Ambika

manakkalsriram · Post by **manakkalsriram** » 23 Apr 2007, 06:57

There is another youngster A.Sowriyar opp Vivekananda College (Oldno 96,newno76,P.S.Sivasamy salai,Mylapore) . He is quite sincere to the best of my knowledge.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 26 Apr 2007, 12:42

I also do the work with Sowrirajan opp. to Vivekananda college in Mylapore. He is quite good.
But one caution. If the mridangist is not hvng adequate knowledge he cannot extract the perfect work fm the artisan. From my experience i have found that we hv to extract work from them to do what we want.
Doss is also good.
Mr.Guna's son who also has a big shop nearby also good.

You can try.
J.Balaji

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 26 Apr 2007, 20:52

Balaji is right... I learned that from experience. You need to be able to monitor the artisan's work and make sure he is doing everything as per your instructions/standards.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 27 Apr 2007, 01:35

""You need to be able to monitor the artisan's work and make sure he is doing everything as per your instructions/standards.""

So very true....my anna arranges the work in such a way that the mridangam repair person ( I think Raju is his name) comes to the house for a whole day and get the work done on a whole lot of mridangams, the work being done in front of anna. Raju is excellent and knows his job. More than that, he is a perfect gentleman in that he does not mind sharing our lunch and enjoying the vegetarian fare ( the only fare!!) offerred to him. If you think it is worth it, you can call my anna on 24643646 and get Raju's details. Regards Sam

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 27 Apr 2007, 04:49

Sam, your anna is Mannargudi Easwaran mama, correct?

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 27 Apr 2007, 05:06

Yes, Sir !