Indian Classical Music and Dance Forms Overview

Khayal

Khayal is a well known dance drama of Rajasthan. It is traditional theater form, derived from Khel (play) based on mythological, historical tables.

Natya Shastra

Natya Shastra, in full Bharata Natya Shastra, is a detailed treatise and handbook on dramatic art that deals with all aspects of classical Sanskrit theatre. It is believed to have been written by the priest Bharata (200 BC - 200 AD). It is also known as the fifth veda as it has been evolved by taking words from the Rigveda, music from the Samaveda, gestures from the Yajurveda and emotions from the Atharvaveda.

Ustad Allah Rakha

Ustad Allah Rakha learned tabla under the great master (Ustad) Mian Qadir Baksh. He was an expert in Hindustani classical music and considered himself to be from Punjab Gharana. He often performed with sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar. Allah Rakha received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1982 and Padma Shri in 1977.

Pandit Ravi Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi. He was an Indian musician, known for popularizing Indian classical instrumental music all over the world. The major list of albums of Ravishankar's are- Three Ragas - Taana Man, Farewell my friend and The Sounds of India.

Sarod

Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan enriched Indian music with an instrument which is similar to the folk instrument 'Rabab' brought from Iran. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in the field of arts by the Government of India in 1991 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

Prabha Atre

Prabha Atre is a famous Indian music singer of Kirana Gharana of India. He has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991, Padma Shri in 1990, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2022.

Ustad Aamir Khan

Famous singer Ustad Aamir Khan is the founder of Indore Gharana. His singing style is a mixture of Kirana and Bhindi Bazaar Gharana.

Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan

Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan was an exponent of Shehnai.

Bhajan Sopori

Bhajan Sopori was a famous Indian santoor player and belonged to the sufiana school of music. Sopori was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992.

Pandit Ravi Shankar's Instrument

Pandit Ravi Shankar is known throughout the world for playing the Sitar.

Khagen Mahanta

A famous folk musician of Assam state, popular as Bihu Samrat, awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992.

Manna Dey

A famous personality in the field of Music, real name was Prabodh Chanra Dey.

M. Balamuralikrishna

An Indian music legend credited for composing taals like Trimukhi, Panchmukhi, Saptamukhi, and Navamukhi; a Carnatic singer and multi-instrumentalist.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

An Indian classical singer from Karnataka, born on 4 Feb 1922, belonging to the Kirana Gharana tradition.

Rahul Dev Burman

A famous film composer known as Pancham Da, born on 27 June 1939 and died on 4 January 1994.

Gangubai Hangal

An Indian singer from Karnataka known for her deep and powerful voice in the khayal style of Hindustani classical music.

''Bombay'' Jayshree Ram Nath

A famous singer of Carnatic music, awarded the Padma Shri in 2001.

Zakir Hussain

Famous for playing the tabla.

Pandit Shivanath Mishra

A famous Sitar player of India, awarded Padma Shri in 2022, dedicated to the people of Banaras.

Chhajju Khan

One of the founders of the Bhindi Bazaar Gharana in Mumbai Hindustani music.

Bhindi Bazaar Gharana

Founded by ustad Chhajju Khan, Nazir Khan, Khadim Hussain Khan, and Ustad Aman Ali Khan.

Sheikh Chinna Maulana

A famous maestro who played the Nadaswaram instrument in the Carnatic tradition and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1977.

Nadaswaram

A musical instrument played by Sheikh Chinna Maulana, known for its use in Carnatic music.

M.S. Subbulakshmi

The first musician to receive the Bharat Ratna and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1974.

Ramon Magsaysay Award

An award received by M.S. Subbulakshmi in 1974.

Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande

A landmark figure in Indian musicology, related to Hindustani music, not Carnatic music.

Santoor

A classical musical instrument associated with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, known as Shatatantri Veena.

Sirpur National Dance and Music festival

Organized every year in Chhattisgarh state of India.

U. Srinivas

A famous player of the Mandolin, awarded Padma Shri in 1998.

Mandolin

A musical instrument played by Uppalaya Srinivas, known for its use in Carnatic classical music.

Pandit Ram Narayan

An Indian musician associated with the Sarangi, popularizing it in Hindustani Classical Music.

Padma Shri

An award received by Sheikh Chinna Maulana and U. Srinivas for their contributions to music.

Raga Alapana

A style rendered by Sheikh Chinna Maulana through his excellent control over the Nadaswaram.

Hindustani Music

A style of Indian classical music, distinct from Carnatic music.

Carnatic Music

A style of Indian classical music primarily associated with South India.

Shyama Shastri

A notable figure in Carnatic music, listed among musicians in the context of Bharat Ratna.

Tyagaraja

A prominent composer in Carnatic music, listed among musicians in the context of Bharat Ratna.

K.J. Yesudas

A renowned Carnatic musician, listed among musicians in the context of Bharat Ratna.

Ghatam

A percussion instrument not associated with Pandit Ram Narayan.

Flute

A musical instrument not associated with Pandit Ram Narayan.

Tabla

A percussion instrument played by Zakir Hussain.

Mridangam

A percussion instrument listed among options played by Sheikh Chinna Maulana.

Violin

A string instrument listed among options played by Sheikh Chinna Maulana.

Padma Bhushan Award

An award given for distinguished service in various fields, awarded in 2002.

Grammy Award

An award presented by the Recording Academy to recognize excellence in the recording industry, awarded in 1992 and 2009.

Rupkonwar

A title given to Jyoti Prasad Agarwal, a popular musician from Assam.

Karnatak Music

A style of classical music limited to Karnatak, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Queen of Thumri

A title given to Girija Devi, a famous Indian classical singer from Banaras Gharana.

Sitar

A musical instrument played by Shahid Parvez Khan, Budhaditya Mukherjee, Anushka Shankar, and Harishankar Bhattacharya.

Carnatic music composers

The trinity of Carnatic music refers to Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikhitar, and Shyama Sastri.

Aftaab-e-Sitar

An honor received by Ustad Vilayat Khan for his unique style of playing the sitar.

Girija Devi

A classical singer known as the 'Queen of Thumri', awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2016.

Faiyaz Khan

An exponent of the Agra Gharana of Hindustani classical music, associated with the Tabla.

Ustad Vilayat Khan

An Indian classical sitar player known for his unique singing style of playing sitar.

Anuska Shankar

A famous player of the sitar, part of the group of musicians mentioned.

Harishankar Bhattacharya

A famous player of the sitar, part of the group of musicians mentioned.

Nandini Shankar

A musician known for playing the violin.

Ragini Shankar

A musician known for playing the violin.

Aruna Sairam

A musician associated with Carnatic music.

T.M. Krishna

A musician associated with Carnatic music.

Gayatri Girish

A musician associated with Carnatic music.

Pandit Kishan Maharaj

A musician of the Banaras Gharana known for playing the tabla.

Uppalapu Srinivas

An Indian Mandolin player and composer of Carnatic classical music, awarded Padma Shree in 1998.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

A famous Indian Sarod player known for his clear and fast 'Ekhara Taan', awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

Ustad Bismillah Khan

Related to the musical instrument Shehnai, awarded Bharat Ratna in 2001.

Ramnad V Raghavan

An artist known for playing the Mridangam.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

Associated with the Santoor.

Pandit Birju Maharaj

Awarded the Padma Vibhushan for the Kathak style of classical dance.

A.R. Rehman

Known as 'The Mozart of Madras' in India, a playback singer and music director who has won two Oscar awards.

Pakhawaj

A musical instrument played by Pandit Kishan Maharaj.

Dhol

A musical instrument played by Pandit Kishan Maharaj.

Sufi devotional Music

A genre of music that is spiritual in nature.

Ghazal music

A genre of music characterized by its poetic form.

Veena

A musical instrument not specifically associated with any mentioned artist.

Shehnai

A musical instrument associated with Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Dr. N. Rajam

A famous player of Violin, born in 1938 in Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

Bappi Lahiri

A popular music director in India, born in 1952 in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.

Asgari Bai

A Dhrupad singer born in 1918 in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, who died in 2006.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The thirteenth President of India, known as Missile Man, who played the Veena.

Totaram Sharma

Related to the Pakhawaj instrument.

Ustad Shakoor Khan

An excellent Sarangi player of the twentieth century.

Kathakali

A performing art that flourished in South India in the seventeenth century under the patronage of the Prince of Karnataka.

Mudras in Kathakali

There are 24 main mudras and many other mudras in Kathakali.

Shri Maniprasad

Related to Carnatic Vocal Music.

Pakhawaj Players

Ustad Rehman Khan and Gopal Das are notable players.

Flute Players

Hari Prasad Chaurasiya is a notable flute player from the Banaras Gharana.

Pandit Jasraj

A classical singer from the Mewati Gharana.

Famous Tabla Players

Sandeep Das, Gyan Prakash Ghosh, and Sabir Khan.

Major Musical Instruments of India

Includes Tabla, Sitar, Santoor, and Pakhawaj.

Ghazal

A genre of music associated with Asgari Bai.

Mixed Music

A genre that combines various musical styles.

Folk music

Traditional music that originates from the common people of a region.

Carnatic Vocal Music

A form of Indian classical music originating from South India.

Hindustani Vocal music

A form of Indian classical music originating from North India.

Khayyam

A famous music director awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011.

Pandit Arvind Parikh

A famous classical Sitar player and disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan.

R. K. Bijapure

A musician known for playing the harmonium.

Banaras Gharana

A style of Khayal singing founded by Ustad Inayat Khan.

Lata Mangeshkar

Known as the 'Nightingale of India', awarded Bharat Ratna in 2001.

Nat

A classical type of Manipuri singing, distinct from North and South Indian music.