Chitra Veena performance by N. Ravikiran

Chitra Veena also spelled Chitraveena is a 20 or 21-string fretless lute for Carnatic music played mainly in South India. The origin of this instrument can be traced back to saint Baharata’s Natya Shastra in which it is mentioned as a 7 string fretless instrument.

Shown here is N. Ravikiran, an exponent in Indian classical music performs Chitra Veena on behalf of Sadhana, a music festival organized by Swathi Thirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.