Elathalam (or Ilathalam) is a musical instrument from

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

in southern

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. It is made completely of bronze and resembles a miniature pair of

cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sou ...

s, played by holding one part in the left hand and banging the other cymbal against it. Although small in size, it is thicker than common cymbals, with a distinct chime. Elathalam is never a lead instrument, but is used in a number of ethnic Kerala percussion ensembles including

Panchavadyam Panchavadyam (Malayalam: പഞ്ചവാദ്യം), literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form that has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four — timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idak ...

Chenda The Chenda (, ) is a cylindrical percussion instrument originating in the state of Kerala and widely used in Tulu Nadu of Karnataka in India. In Tulu Nadu (Coastal Karnataka), it is known as ''chende''. The instrument is strongly associat ...

melam The term "melam" means "ensemble," as in a "musical ensemble." In Kerala, "melam" refers to a group of Maddalam (drums) and similar percussion instruments (such as a Chenda) in a rhythmic performance. Those who play in melams are called 'Melakaa ...

Thayambaka Thayambaka or tayambaka is a type of solo chenda performance that developed in the south Indian state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and ilathalam playe ...

and Kailaya vathiyam, as well as by a second singer on a

Kathakali ''Kathakali'' (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Kathakaḷi ) is a traditional form of Indian Classical Dance, and one of the most complex forms of Theatre of India, Indian theatre. It is a play of verses. These vers ...

stage and providing the beat in

Kuzhal Pattu Kuzhal pattu is a form of traditional temple music practised in the Indian state of Kerala. It centers on the use of the kuzhal, a double reed wind instrument, and is typically performed at temple festivals. Structure In kuzhal pattu, the ku ...

and

Kombu Pattu The Kombu (Tamil:கொம்பு, Malayalam: കൊമ്പ്) or Kompu also known as the Kombu Pattu is a wind instrument (a kind of Natural Horn) in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Usually played along with Panchavadyam, Pandi Melam, Panchari me ...

See also