Describe Rao’s instrument, the mridangam.

What will be an ideal response?

• A mridangam is a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum. Both of its drumheads are made from multiple layers of leather with the outer layers cut with a circular hole in the middle. One head is tuned, the lower (untuned) head has a blob of wheat paste applied to its center to give it a booming sound. The use of the fingers as drum sticks allows the drummer to play with incredible speed.