In the workshop
Seven makers, one courtyard, and wood that waits.
- 7
- makers in our workshop
- 3 years
- of seasoning for every log
- 1968
- year the workshop opened
Who we are
Jackwood, seasoned until it sings.
Our makers carve, fret and tune every veena in a courtyard workshop behind the shop. The jackwood comes from Panruti and rests under our roof for three years before a chisel touches it, so it does not crack in a dry Delhi winter or a Chennai monsoon.
Veenas, tamburas and mridangams made in our Thanjavur workshop, and violins set up for Carnatic music. Book an hour in the playing room. Try three or four instruments side by side, with a maker to adjust the frets or jivari while you listen. No charge.
— The Ponni Vadya Sala team, Thanjavur
What we stand for
Three things we will not change
Wood first
We only buy jackwood that has stood at least thirty years, and we let it rest three more before carving.
Played, not just made
Every instrument is played in by a musician for a week before it leaves, and adjusted again if it needs it.
Repairs for life
We repair any veena, mridangam or violin, ours or not, and tell you the price before we open it.
Come and play before you choose.
Book an hour in the playing room. Try three or four instruments side by side, with a maker to adjust the frets or jivari while you listen. No charge.
Visit or call usOur story so far
Ponni Vadya Sala, year by year
- 1968
A carver opens a shop on South Main Street
Our founder, Ramalingam, carved veena bodies for other makers for twenty years before opening a two-room shop of his own.
- 1984
Mridangams join the workshop
His son-in-law, a mridangam maker from Kumbakonam, set up a lathe in the courtyard and began turning shells.
- 2007
A wood store for seasoning
We built a covered store at the back so every jackwood log could rest for three years before carving.
- Today
Seven makers and a playing room
Seven makers work in the courtyard, and a quiet room at the front lets you play before you choose.
Listen
Visit, or ask for a video of the instrument being played.
Adjust
We set frets, bridge and jivari to your shruti.
Receive
Crated, insured and delivered in 4–7 days.
Reviews
What customers say
Sample reviews, written for this demo. Real customer reviews replace them on your store.
My daughter’s first veena came from here. They set the frets lower for her small hands and it made practice so much easier.
I sent my grandfather’s mridangam for new skins. It came back sounding like it did in his concerts, and they called before every step.
The violin arrived tuned to Sa-Pa-Sa-Pa with fine tuners already on. My teacher asked where I had bought it.
Before the December season.
Instruments booked by 15 October are ready in time. Ask us on WhatsApp.