The two mouths or apertures of the drum are covered with a goatskin and laced to each other with leather straps along the length of the drum. These straps are put into a state of high tension to stretch out the circular membranes on either side of the hull, allowing them to resonate when struck.

How does mridangam produce sound?

Sound is produced when a source vibrates. In case of Mridangam it is the stretched membrane on the instrument which vibrates on tapping. Harmonious sound is produced by this.

Are animals killed for mridangam?

Mani, a finicky player whose mridangam needs to be serviced (for Rs 1,500) after every concert, insists: "Only those cows are killed that are old and are of no use." Adds Sivaraman: "Cows are not killed to make mridangams. They are slaughtered anyway and we merely use the hide."