The kanjira, a South Indian frame drum, is made with a circular frame of:

Explanation

The kanjira is a small South Indian frame drum. Its circular frame is made of wood, traditionally jackfruit wood, and it is covered on one side with a skin. It is one of the main percussion instruments used in Carnatic music concerts, along with the mridangam and the ghatam.

The kanjira is about 7 to 9 inches in diameter and 2 to 4 inches deep. One side of the wooden frame is covered with a skin, traditionally the skin of the monitor lizard, while the other side is open. Because the monitor lizard is a protected species, players now use other materials, such as goatskin or synthetic skin. A slot in the frame holds one pair of small metal discs (jingles), which add a light ringing sound. The kanjira is held in the left hand and played with the fingers and palm of the right hand. The player can change the pitch by pressing on the skin with the fingers of the left hand. Before playing, the skin is often sprinkled with water to adjust its tone. Although it looks simple, playing the kanjira well requires great skill.

The kanjira became a concert instrument in the late 19th century. Manpoondia Pillai is credited with introducing it to Carnatic concerts, and his disciple Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai became its most famous player. Other well-known kanjira players include G. Harishankar, V. Selvaganesh and K.V. Gopalakrishnan.

In the Indian classification of instruments, the kanjira is an avanaddha vadya, an instrument with skin stretched over a frame. It is similar in shape to the Western tambourine and the daf of the Middle East, but it has fewer jingles.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Metal is used for cymbals and the jingles of the kanjira, not for its frame.
• ✗Clay is used for the ghatam, the pot drum of Carnatic music.
• ✗Bamboo is used for flutes and folk instruments.