The Dhodro Banams of old were masterly creations and works of art. Forty-seven  year old Sanjay Mardi, a Santal cultivator from Birbhum, has been making Dhodro Banams since he was about twenty years old, but opts for a more simple style. He learnt the art from his grandfather, but makes the instruments only occasionally, for his own pleasure or whenever requested by the village boys, if he can spare the time.

Though traditional banams are ornately carved, Sanjay paints on his simple banam instead and uses his creativity to fashion a decorative extension to the top of his banam. The one in the picture has a head of Shiva and Parvati; he has also made one with a likeness of Rabindranath Tagore. 

Being the sole dhodro banam maker and player of his vicinity, Sanjay divides his time between his fields and performing at events with musicians and dancers from his village. Sanjay`s children who are now studying in school, have not yet shown any inclination to learn the art from their father.