Chandra pirai Soorya pirai.

The frame drum is one where the skin is stretched over a frame of wood or metal. The diameter may be larger than the depth. The hide may cover one or both sides of the frame. The simplest of these are Soorya pirai or soorya mandalam and Chandra pirai or Chandra mandalam. Found in andhra and Tamil nadu. The Pirai in the two names indicate drum, the soorya and chandra indicate the shape. the first is round and the other is crescent shaped. These pirai's about 25 cms in diameter, consists of an Iron rod bent n the form of a circle or a crescent across which is stretched specially treated hide. The frame bears a handle and to its furthest end is attached a curved band, also of iron. This band is tied around the forehead of the player who strikes the instrument on both sides of the membrane with small sticks.