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...
A tiny one-bedroom flat tucked into a quieter lane of Chennai’s Mandavelli neighbourhood is something of a pilgrimage destination for Carnatic violin students. This is where, overseen by images of dozens of deities, A Kanyakumari, 71, has taught some of the brightest young talent on the concert circuit today. How...
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...
The plain white tag around the neck of the tanpura says simply: 1890, Miraj, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Around it, many more tanpuras stand tall, perched on their protuberant bases like awkward sentinels of sound. Their tags tell their respective origin stories – their scale, celebrated owners, faceless craftsmen with...
N Rajam is surprised that you see a quartet of women violinists from across three generations of a family as...
Hindustani classical music, with its intricate melodies and emotive expressions, has been shaped over centuries by the diverse cultural and...
I. The importance of the emotional content in Indian Classical Music As any aficionado of this artistic tradition knows, the emotional factor is crucial to Indian classical music. So much so that it is often said in India that “if a performer fails to communicate emotionally with his/her audience, what...
The sour golugu berries/And shark fish and mullet/When I eat the fish you appear in my dreams/My dark and handsome...
Indian folk music is a treasure trove of melodies, rhythms, and narratives that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of the...
Indian classical music, with its rich tapestry of melodies, rhythms, and emotions, stands as a testament to the country’s cultural heritage. Rooted in tradition and honed over centuries, this art form has been nurtured and passed down through generations. However, the landscape of Indian classical music has not been exclusively...