Young mridangam artist Kuzhalmannam G Ramakrishnan of Kerala on Saturday set a new Guinness record in percussion instruments by playing the mridangam non-stop for over 84 hours.
Ramakrishnan performed the gruelling feat in the presence of two representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records at a specially arranged venue at the Mascot Beach Resort in Kannur.
Suresh Joachin Arulantham of Australia holds the existing 84-hour record set with drums at Zurich, Switzerland, according to a release issued at the venue.
The event titled 'Rhythm for Peace' began at 9 am on May 25, Ramakrishnan's 34th birthday.
Ramakrishnan, hailing from Kuzhalmannam village in Palakkad, went past the 84-hour mark at 9.01 pm.
The event is being held as per the guidelines issued by the Guinness and the Limca Book of World Records authorities, and has drawn a large number of people.
Born in 1971 in a family of musicians, Ramakrishan had his first lessons in music from his father, Gopalakrishana Iyer.
He has won several awards, including a gold medal at the National University festival.
Ramakrishnan, who runs a carnatic music school, is an 'A' grade artist with All India Radio and has accompanied renowned muscians like K J Yesudas, V Dakshinamoorthy, N Ramani, Kadri Gopal Nath and N Rajam in the past.
