Which instrument has two sides leather ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The correct instrument is the Dhol. The Dhol is fundamentally classified as a **Dwi-mukhi** or two-faced cylindrical drum, meaning its wooden barrel or shell is covered with stretched animal hide/leather on *both* sides. This structural feature is essential for its function, as the two distinct membranes are tuned to different pitches—one producing a deep bass sound (often played with a thicker stick) and the other a sharper treble sound (played with a lighter stick or by hand). The Dhol’s two-sided construction is what allows it to generate the rhythmic complexity and powerful, contrasting tones necessary for folk and ceremonial music across the Indian subcontinent.

The incorrect option is 1:
The Duff (also known as Daf, Dafli, or Daireh) is a **Eka-mukhi** or single-faced frame drum. Its construction involves a shallow wooden frame, often circular, with the leather skin stretched only over one side. The opposite side is left open or simply covered with cloth, making it physically impossible for it to have 'two sides leather'. It is typically played by hand, and its primary function in music is to provide a rhythmic accompaniment, similar to a large tambourine without the metal jingles, thereby differing significantly from a two-sided barrel drum.

The incorrect option is 2:
The Nagara is a type of large **Eka-mukhi** or single-faced kettle drum. Its body is a hemispherical shell, historically made of copper, clay, or iron, which is wide at the mouth and narrow at the base. The leather skin is stretched tightly only across the wide opening at the top of the instrument. Since the Nagara is built with a solid, bowl-shaped resonator, it lacks the second striking surface necessary to qualify as an instrument with two sides of leather, thus excluding it from the correct category.

The incorrect option is 3:
The Tasha is another **Eka-mukhi** or single-faced kettle drum, though its shape is much shallower than the Nagara, resembling a large, flat, wide bowl. Similar to the Nagara, the Tasha's body is typically metal, and the membrane is stretched and fastened only across the top open rim of the bowl. It is known for its sharp, high-pitched, and metallic sound produced by thin sticks, which is a consequence of its single, tautly stretched playing surface. Therefore, the Tasha only utilizes leather on one side of its construction.