
Aravana muttu or arabana muttu is an art form prevalent among Muslims in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
state of south India, named after the aravana, a hand-held, one-sided flat
tambourine
The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called " zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, thou ...
or drumlike musical instrument, derived from Arabia. It is made of wood and animal skin, similar to the
duff
Duff may refer to:
People
* Duff (surname)
* Duff (given name)
* Duff (nickname)
* Karen Duffy, an actress, model, and former MTV VJ once known as "Duff"
* Duff Roman, on-air name of Canadian radio personality and executive David Mostoway (bo ...
but a little thinner and bigger. In the opinion of Becker Edakkazhiyur, a noted arabana musician, "the ritualistic performance of `Arabana Reefa Ee Raathib Muttu' has been mistaken for `Arabana Kali Muttu,' which is purely for entertainment. While the former is almost extinct, the latter, known for its aesthetic appeal, is the one presented nowadays."
The arabana muttu, which is performed to welcome dignitaries, is a more difficult art than the
duff muttu. There are traditional and modern methods of playing the aravana. Traditionally, with participants sitting in a semicircle, the leader of the group will start singing. When the initial song is over, the players will start to play following the song of the leader and beating on the aravana musically; others will beat in the same way by giving chorus to the song.
Even though the duff and Aravana are two different types of arts, the word duff is used interchangeably for Aravana, because the duff is more familiar than the Aravana. This art is nowadays the basis for competitions in Kerala.
"Winning note", ''The Hindu,'' (19 December 2008)
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See also
* Duff muttu
* Kuthu Ratheeb
Rifai Raatheeb is a ritual performed by a section of Ahmed ar-Rifa'i. Rifai is a name that originates from Sufi saint Ahmed-Al-Kabeer who was born in the Wasit region in Baghdad, Iraq
Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital ...
* Mappila
Mappila Muslim, often shortened to Mappila, formerly anglicized as Moplah/Mopla and historically known as Jonaka/Chonaka Mappila or Moors Mopulars/Mouros da Terra and Mouros Malabares, in general, is a member of the Muslim community of same n ...
* Mappila Paattu
* Oppana
References
External links
* http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/arts/ritual-art-forms/arabanamuttu-604.php
{{Culture of Kerala
Arts of Kerala
Indian styles of music
Indian musical instruments
Mappilas