Veena Maker Shankar

shankar from mandaiveli is  an expert in veena making and he has made 500 veenas in life . His shop is 54 years old .

Chennai mandaiveli september 28 : shankar from madaiveli he is an expert in veena making he has been making veena from more than 32 years . he learned this art from his father and grand father , his family is involved in musical instrument making from 3 generations and now shankar son has also involved in this .

shankar has studied until 12 hew has 3 children last one he is accompanying his father in veena making , shankar also knows to play veena to an extent of knowing swaranayam . almost 10 veenas are serviced per day and 5 veenas are manufactured per month . veenas can be made only when they have a touch in music at least swaranayam .

shankar learned his art of work from his father and grand father by just looking and listening to their work he says that in areas different veenas are made each veena is engraved and hand made and the cost of the veena is according to the materials used and the work involved in it. during navarathri time the veena sales is more, and the foreigners show more interest in buying the veena and other string instrument.

shankar not only makes veenas but also other string instruments like violin , guitar etc. the veenas that he make is made of jack wood the reason behind it is that jack wood stays the same without any distraction in almost all the seasons. during navarathri as its believed that is a this time to start a work or business many people buy veena for their musical teaching classes.

veenas cost according to the work involved some veenas are engraved on the jack wood and the strings are really sensitive the highest price may cost upto 60 thousand the lowest is 16 thousand. 

when shankar grand father was young he was interested in learning music but as he was not capable of being a musician he learned making musical instruments to fulfill his desire he started as a business and spread to the generations and shankar on looking at this father and admiring his work has learned to make veena and his involved in this art of work and also has given it to the other generations .