The Kanjira is a small tambourine played in South India as part of the Carnatic drumming tradition. It is a relatively new instrument. Made of a jackwood frame and a monitor lizard skin, the instrument is extremely expressive and dynamic.
The great kanjira artist, G. Harishankar Rao popularized the instrument at the end of the 20th century when he joined the stage with masters like Ustad Zakir Hussain.