Instrument ID question

[jooknow]

I recently watched some of the bonus material in the film "The Fall" for anyone who's seen it. Anyways, I believe they were in India somewhere and there was a man playing a stringed instrument I have never seen before and haven't been able to identify.

The instrument looked somewhat like an Erhu. The gentleman had it cradled at his left elbow, where a small gourd shaped resonator was with the neck heading up his arm and past his hand. It was facing towards him. There were 2, maybe 3 large tuners a little ways above the middle point of the neck, spaced a decent amount from each other. The neck was skinny and the strings were near the outsides of the neck, about 2 or 3 cm away from the neck. He played the instrument with a bow, but it was a curved bow with bells on one end so as to have percussion while he played it.

I couldn't manage to find anything that looked like it online. It had an incredibly unique sound, especially with the bells going as well.

Anybody have any idea what it was?

[methodistgirl]

I have no idea. I've seen a lot of strange instruments but not that.
Unless it was some kind of lute. Welcome to the forum anyway.
Nice to have you.
judy tooley

[Contratrombone64]

sounds like a Japanese style lute, buggered if I can remember it's name, not Koto?? or is that a drum

[jvhldb]

It sounds like it might be a "Ravanhatha" or "Ravanhatta" or even "ravan-hantak" (not sure about the spelling, I picked all of them up on Google). I also found a video clip on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lMYVkloqA

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha Johan,

Great job in tracking down the instrument in question - BRAVO!!!

Cheerio,

CD

[jooknow]

It sounds like it might be a "Ravanhatha" or "Ravanhatta" or even "ravan-hantak" (not sure about the spelling, I picked all of them up on Google). I also found a video clip on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lMYVkloqA

That was the instrument... thanks!

[greatcyber]

You guys never cease to amaze me in the vastness of your knowledge and willingness to share tidbits from the mundane to the most intricate. With some of the software programs that I have now acquired, I cannot get over the thousands of sounds the human ear is capable of experiencing.

It's wonderful that music is so universal.