Women’s Day special: Meet thavil artiste Amirthavarshini Manishankar, who is making a name in the male-dominated world of percussion

From temple courtyards to A.R. Rahman’s ‘Wonderment Tour’: The journey of thavil artiste Amirthavarshini Manishankar

From playing the thavil in the temples of Mannargudi near Thanjavur as a schoolgirl to joining A.R. Rahman’s ‘Wonderment Tour’ concert in Chennai recently, Amirthavarshini Manishankar’s musical journey seems like a fairy tale. But in reality, it is also a story of conviction and perseverance — of a young girl carving a space for herself as a thavil artiste in the male‑dominated world of Carnatic percussion.

“I was both excited and emotional when Rahman sir asked me to play a tani avarthanam at the ‘Wonderment Tour’ concert. Performing solo in front of a huge audience was a dream come true,” says Amrithavarshini. The 18‑year‑old recalls how she got the opportunity, “It felt surreal when Rahman sir began following me on Instagram last October. A little later, his manager called to say that I needed to be in Chennai for two days in February to be part of the concert.”

Amrithavarshini Manishankar. | Photo Credit: J. Johan Sathyadas

Hailing from a family of six generations of musicians, Amirthavarshini grew up listening to her father, a nagaswaram artiste, A.P. Manishankar, and violinist-mother G. Jayanthi Shankar, who often performed during rituals and festivals in temples. A decade ago, when she was just eight, Amrithavarshini defied convention by choosing to learn the thavil — an instrument rarely pursued by women. “I once asked my parents why there were no women thavil artistes. They said the instrument is heavy and the posture required to play it is difficult. After hearing that, I became even more determined to take it up,” she says.

Though many were sceptical about her decision, her elder brother, Manoj Kumar — who passed away a few years ago — stood firmly by her side. “I always pray to him before every concert,” she says.

Amirthavarshini was the first female student of Adhichaburam A.B. Ramadhass. She later came under the tutelage of Kovilur K.G. Kalyana Sundharam. She now continues her advanced training, particularly to hone her manodharma skills, under veteran thavil artiste Thanjavur T.R. Govindharajan.