Twelve-year-old Manu here is on an arduous musical venture to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. He is undertaking the marathon effort with one of the most ancient musical instruments, the jalatharang. Jalatharang is a set of China bowls filled with water, which give out various musical notes when struck with a light iron or wooden mallet.

Manu is a class 7 student of the Ganapat Boys High School here.

The musical marathon was launched at 8 a.m. Monday. "The contestant is allowed to take 10 minutes' rest after every 8 hours. We are recording the event with three cameras and the footage will be sent to the Guinness Book officials," said P.M.V. Panikkar, the general convener of the programme.

'Manu will have to break the record of 16 hours by Ramakrishna Rao of Andhra Pradesh. He has practiced well; he plans to continue playing the jaltharang till Tuesday morning,' he added.

The organisers have 124 musicians who will take turns to play accompanying instruments with Manu, who will render some 20 ragas during the programme.

'I am confident that he will play for 24 hours continuously, breaking the record. He practiced well before undertaking this venture,' said M. Manikantan, father of Manu.

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