What is a venu?

The venu, also called the Carnatic flute or pullanguzhal, is the eight-hole flute of South Indian Carnatic music. Sa is fingered with the first two holes covered, and the eighth hole stays open except in special fingerings; the Horniman Museum catalogues it on one venu as a hole for tuning. The Music Academy traces how the flute grew from a folk and dance instrument into one that carries the ragas and gamakas of Carnatic music.