I had never played the Chenda before I began learning it at Rudraksham Centre for Arts & Culture, a few months ago. What makes Rudraksham truly special is its culture of sharing knowledge without any ego. The spirit of sharing and caring is something I have personally experienced here. Wishing Rudraksham all the very best and continued success on its beautiful journey ahead!

Learning Chenda at Rudraksham has been a truly memorable and fulfilling journey for me. It has given me an opportunity to connect with our rich cultural heritage while learning a beautiful and powerful art form. Every class has been filled with learning, encouragement, and inspiration. I am deeply thankful to Abhi and the entire team for their dedication, patience, and constant support throughout this journey. Their passion for teaching and preserving our traditions is truly commendable. I feel fortunate to be a part of Rudraksham, and I will always cherish the experience, friendships, and knowledge gained here. My heartfelt gratitude to Abhi and the team for making this dream a reality.

Rudraksham has played a transformative role in my life, helping me build discipline in my daily routine while continuously refining my chenda-playing skills. Under the exceptional leadership of Abhi, and the esteemed guidance of our legendary guru, Shankaran Narayanan Marar, Rudraksham has grown into an institution that inspires excellence and camaraderie. What makes Rudraksham truly special is that it feels like a second home. The people here are more than teammates; they are an extended family. Beyond nurturing our melam skills, Rudraksham places a strong emphasis on the overall development of an individual's character, values, and discipline. I am forever grateful to be part of such a wonderful team that has kept my passion for this incredible art form alive and thriving. Being a member of Rudraksham has been a deeply enriching and rewarding journey, and I look forward to many more years of learning, performing, and growing together.

Learning Chenda was a lifelong dream of mine, and I am grateful to have fulfilled it at the age of 35. After nearly three years of searching for the right opportunity, I joined Rudraksham about one and a half years ago, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has been a privilege to learn under the guidance of Guru Peruvanam Shankaranarayana Marar, Guru Abhilash K, and Guru Peruvanam Sarath Marar. Their dedication, expertise, and passion for this art form are truly inspiring. Rudraksham is more than just a learning platform—it is a family. The supportive environment, excellent teaching, and strong bond among team members make every class a joyful experience. Learning Chenda has improved my concentration, enhanced my body-mind coordination, boosted my confidence, and strengthened my connection to our cultural heritage. I sincerely thank my gurus and the entire Rudraksham team for their guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support. This journey has brought positive changes to my life and is something I will always cherish

As a disciple of Vadyamelam and Ashtapadi, I am fortunate to have this opportunity to be a member of Rudraksham family. It’s great feeling to be out there with a highly enthusiastic team and being trained by renowned masters of Vadyakala. Hats off to Abhilash and other front runners for their committed efforts to enhance the accessibility to our traditional art forms for every aspirants through Rudraksham.

A Journey of Passion and Tradition "My journey with Chenda began in 2015 at the age of 33. I studied under various Gurus to master the art of melam and its diverse forms, driven by a clear intent: to keep our cultural heritage alive and expand my own knowledge. When Rudraksham transitioned into a registered Society two years ago, we had the profound privilege of engaging with Guru Shri Peruvanam Sankaranarayan Marar and Guru Shri Sarath Marar. Under their tutelage, my learning curve has been exponential. We have been exposed to magnificent temple melams, allowing us to be an active part of this living tradition. Sticking together as a family with Rudraksham is truly a blessing. It is a space completely free of ego and commercialization; because the organization is a Society, our fees exist simply to sustain the tradition through our great Gurus. Despite my demanding weekday role as a Technical Director and Support Domain Expert in the IT sector, my weekends are always thrilling. I look forward to stepping into our dedicated soundproof room, learning something new in class, and enjoying the deep connection of our extended Rudraksham family. I am deeply grateful to our Gurujis, Our President - Shri Rama Krishna R, Vice President - Shri Sashidran Nair, Treasurer - Shri Umesh K, Joint Secretary - Shri Ramesh K.V and My great and committed Executive Committee team who are my backbone throughout this journey. Together, let us continue to keep this glorious culture alive.