The plain white tag around the neck of the tanpura says simply: 1890, Miraj, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Around it,...
The sour golugu berries/And shark fish and mullet/When I eat the fish you appear in my dreams/My dark and handsome...
Hindustani classical music, with its intricate melodies and emotive expressions, has been shaped over centuries by the diverse cultural and regional influences of the Indian subcontinent. At the heart of this musical tradition lies the concept of gharana, or musical lineage, which serves as a repository of knowledge, technique, and...
A tiny one-bedroom flat tucked into a quieter lane of Chennai’s Mandavelli neighbourhood is something of a pilgrimage destination for...
Mian Tansen, born as Ramtanu Pandey in the late 15th century, stands as a legendary figure in the realm of...
The Nāṭya Śāstra, originally written in Sanskrit (नाट्य शास्त्र) and found in Kannada (ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ) and Telugu (నాట్య శాస్త్ర) translations, stands as a seminal Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts. Traditionally attributed to the sage Bharata, its origin’s exact timing spans estimates from 500 BCE to 500 CE, with its first...
Jayadeva, also spelled Jaideva, remains a luminary figure in Sanskrit literature, flourishing during the 12th century. His indelible mark lies...
Rithvik Raja, among the younger stars of the Carnatic vocal scene, has an astonishing estimate to share. Of the around...
N Rajam is surprised that you see a quartet of women violinists from across three generations of a family as an inspirational saga of feminist triumph. “Really? Things have changed now, no?” she asks, strong eyebrows raised in mild amusement. You argue back. What about gender discrimination? Male dominance in...
Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form originating from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its intricate footwork,...
Indian classical music, with its rich tapestry of melodies, rhythms, and emotions, stands as a testament to the country’s cultural...
Indian classical vocal music is a tapestry of intricate melodies and soul-stirring rhythms that have mesmerised audiences for centuries. At the heart of this captivating art form lies the art of improvisation, skilfully wielded by vocalists to weave melodies and rhythms in spontaneous and creative ways. Among the diverse improvisational...