The flute is one of the oldest wind instruments which belongs to woodwind family that dates back to over 40,000 years ago and has been used by nearly every civilization and culture around the world. The bamboo flute, which is the most commonly used flute in Indian classical music, is the best example of a nature-made instrument without detachable parts and a complicated mechanism.

Bamboos from the Western Ghats of India (Karnataka & Kerala) and Assam are most commonly used for making Indian classical flutes.

Flute tones are usually lyrical, sweet and devine, blending well with other instruments. The flute's pitch and various aspects of its timbre are very flexible, allowing a high degree of instantaneous expressive control for a virtuso flautist.
Flutes which Ravi uses for performances & recordings vary in size from six inches to two and one-half feet. The larger flutes have a deep, bass tone whereas the shorter ones are high-pitched.

The traditional South Indian flute which Ravi uses for his solo concerts is about eighteen inches in length and three quarters of an inch in diameter which is tuned for D natural. Ravi also uses flutes ranging from 5 inch / 0.3 inch (High pitch) till upto 37 inches in length & 1.5 inches diameter (Bass), for Alaaps, Taanam & Swaraprasthaaras in his concerts.

The closed end may be naturally so, i.e. closed by a node of the stem or it may be artificially sealed with cork or a stopper. About three-quarters of an inch from the sealed end is bored the mouth- hole known as the Mukha randra. Besides the mouth-hole there are eight finger holes in a straight line. The finger holes are slightly smaller than the mouth hole. The finger hole closest to the mouth-hole is called the Tara randra i.e. the hole which produces the highest pitch of all the holes. This is considered as the first hole and the rest are numbered in progression.

Ravi has done research & developed unique 8 holes bass flutes which are ideal for playing carnatic ragas up to F natural.

Playing Position: The flute is held horizontally, normally to the player's right,slightly inclined downwards and played (like a western classical flute). The two thumbs hold the flute in place. The first three fingers of the left hand and the four fingers of the right hand are used to close the finger holes, one to seven respectively. The eighth finger hole is left open & can be used to fine tune the last note of the flute. Sound is produced by blowing air at an angle against the opposite edge of the mouth hole.

The lower lip covers a part of the mouth hole. Variations in pitch are caused by altering the effective length of the air column as a result of the opening and closing of air holes. Semi-tones and quarter-tones can be produced by the partial opening and closing of the finger holes. The flute has a range of two and one-half octaves.
Subhash Thakur of Punam flutes, Delhi makes exclusive carnatic flutes for Ravichandra Kulur using seasoned Assam bamboos.

We beleive Lord Krishna to be a master of the instrument.