Chenda is a cylindrical wooden drum which is two feet in length and about a foot in diameter. Both sides of the chenda is covered with skin. Although the chenda has two faces, only one surface of it is beaten. The drummer suspends the chenda from his neck such that it hangs more or less vertically and with two sticks held in both the hands, he strikes the upper parchment. It is an important percussion instrument used in 'Kathakali', 'Koodiyattam' and related forms of dances.

The same instrument is known as the chende in certain areas of Karnataka and it is used in 'Yakshagana' which is a folk dance-drama. The sound produced by the chenda is very loud. There are many varieties of this drum like uruttu chenda (for playing variations), the veekku chenda (one which beats the basic rhythm), acchan chenda and so on.