Guinness record for longest hand-drum

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted mridangam exponent Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan has made his way into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest performance of a hand-drum lasting for 301 hours.

 Ramakrishnan set the record for his marathon performance at the Nadalaya Auditorium of Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Sciences in Comibatore from August one to 13 this year.
    

The certificate from the Guinness approving the feat was received by Ramakrishnan earlier this week, sources close to the artiste said.
    

It noted that Ramakrishnan's performance had been confirmed as the new Guinness Record for the longest marathon hand-drumming by any artiste.
    

In 2005, he had enthralled the music lovers by playing for 101 hours non-stop in Kannur.

A leading performer of the percussion instrument mainly used in south Indian music, Ramakrishnan has accompanied most contemporary exponents of Carnatic vocalists over the last 25 years.
    

He has also joined leading players of other instruments in fusion music.

Hailing from Kuzhalmannam village in Palakkad district, Ramakrishnan learnt mridangam from his father Goapalakrishna Iyer. A graduate in Commerce, he opted for a career in music.