Exploring Chenda ft. Deepu Menon | SAGA with Manu S Pillai | Ep 1

From political processions and temple festivals to weddings and celebrations, the chenda is one of Kerala’s most recognisable sounds. But what does it mean to be a chenda artist today?

In the opening episode of SAGA, Manu S Pillai sits down with Deepu Menon, a young chenda performer, to talk about life as a contemporary percussion artist. The conversation moves from discipline and training to changing audiences, evolving performance spaces, and the realities of carrying a traditional art form into the 21st century. The episode even offers a glimpse into what an elementary chenda lesson feels like—grounded, rhythmic, and intense.