8 Grand Maestros Of Indian Classical Music Who Have Transformed The Music Industry

Music is a universal language; everyone can relate to it. If you listen to the music very carefully, you will realize that the tune of all the music is precisely the same. India is a land enriched with various cultures, traditions, practices, and talents. These maestros eliminate the cultural, linguistic and geographical boundaries through their music. M.S. Subbhalakshmi’s United Nations performance touched the global audience. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has collaborated with Western classical musicians. Pandit Ravi Shankar’s performance at the Monterey Pop Festival and collaboration with The Beatles initiated interest in Indian classical music in the West.

But what matters is the interpretation and how music is interpreted in different regions. This gives it a unique flavor. The classical music songs replicates the spiritual and contemplative essence of Indian culture that India is known for is very well represented through Indian classical music, which is the traditional and art music in India.  Indian Classical music is not only an art form but also refers to storytelling and a means of storytelling and spiritual expression.

Pandit Ravi Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar was born in Varanasi, India, in 1920. He is the maestro who made the sitar sing globally. 1938, he connected deeply with music when he studied under the legendary sarod player Ustad Allauddin Khan. His many famous collaborations make popular classical music songs to the western world. In the 1960s, Ravi Shankar’s collaboration with guitarist George Harrison introduces sitar to The Beatles’ iconic songs like “Norwegian Wood”.

 He and Yehudi Menuhin released their “West Meets East” album, which won a Grammy Award. He also composed music for Satyajit Roiy’s “Apu Trilogy”, which introduced his sitar composition to the cinematic world. His technical command of complex rhythmic patterns (tala) and ability to balance them flawlessly with the melodic framework (raga) set him apart as a musician of extraordinary skill. He died in 2012, but his sitar symbolizes cultural expression, spirituality and innovation.

Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain, a well-known name in the music industry, is a tabla maestro. He was born in 1951 into a musical family in Mumbai. He was the son of another legend, Ustad Alla Rakja. He started playing the tabla at the age of three. His profound thoughtfulness of rhythm and technical maestro over complex recurrent patterns (tala) complete him a recognized artist in India and globally. His first performance was at the age of 7, which shows he was a solid child genius. He has massively donated in the classical music of India.

 He has cooperated with other renowned musicians of India like sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, sarod legend Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Bansuri icon Pandit Haripada Chaurasia. His flexibility and knowledge over the tabla make tabla from an extra instrument to a powerful single occurrence. His association with American guitarist John McLaughlin made Sakti 1974 one of the most effective Indo-Western fusion bands. He worked with Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum and won the Grammy Award in 1992. He also worked in films like “Apocalypse Now” and “In Custody”.

Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar, India’s iconic playback vocalist, was renowned for her proficiency to blend traditional ragas with Bollywood music. Trained in Hindustani classical music by her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, she fluently communicated complicated ragas into film configurations, a rare feat even for knowledgeable classical vocalists. She has enormously donated to the traditional music songs for her flawless pitch and sensitive singing won her approval from traditionalists like Allauddin Khan and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

Mangeshkar’s connotations with fabled creators such as Salil Chowdhury, S.D. Burman, and Madan Mohan ensued in timeless, raga-based songs like Raina Beeti Jaaye and Jaa Tose Nahin Boloon Kanhaiyya. Her inspiration on Hindi film music raised spectators into true enthusiasts, or rasiks. Despite anxieties about her inheritance fading with time, her supreme charities endure to inspire and reverberate with music lovers universal.

For her contribution in Indian classical music with her classical roots she was honored Padma Bhushan in 1969, India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 2001, National Film Awards for films where her classical based songs are prominent, and many other awards.

Ustad Bismillah Khan

Ustad Bismillah Khan is the most excellent interpreter of the Shehnai, an instrument used in weddings and religious celebrations. He was born in Dumraon, Bihar, in 1916. He earned the title “ustad” for his excellence and respect. He contributed immensely in classical music of India. He came from a rich musical background family—the official shehnai player at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ustad Ali Bux, his uncle, teaching him.

For his contribution in the classical music of India in 1947, his rendition of Raag Kafi from the Red Fort in Delhi, after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic speech “Tryst with Destiny”, made him famous and a historic movement. He also got India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna 2001. He was always very down to earth and rooted in his everyday lifestyle. Despite global fame, he lived in Varanasi, where he felt closest to the spirituality of his music. He symbolized India’s rich cultural heritage and legacy beyond his technical mastery of the shehnai.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was born in 1922 in Gadag, Karnataka. His early interest in music was influenced by the devotional bhajans sung by his mother. By age 11, Young Bhimsen left his home and travelled to many places in India, like Gwalior, Lucknow and Rampur, to seek Guru. He found his mentor in Pandit Sawai Gandharva, a disciple of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan of the Kirana Gharana. He is greatest in Khayal singing. His interpretation of ragas like Suddha Kalyan, Puriya Dhanashree, and Multani became iconic and still recognized in Khayal singing. He acknowledged Bharat Ratna in 2008, Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1985 and Padma Vibhushan in 1999.

M.S Subbalakshmi

M.S. Subbhulakshmi was born in 1916 in Madurai, Tamilnadu. She ongoing her music preparation under her mother, Shanmukhavadivu, a veena player. At the age of 11, she completed her first public stage presentation. Her unique voice syndicates sweetness and asset and popularise Carnatic music. She also achieved in admired venues such as the United Nations in 1996.

 She was renowned for her versions of M.S Ramachandra’s compositions and religious hymns like “Kurai Ondrum Illai” and “Bhajan Govindam” by Adi Shankaracharya. She replaced in films, notably “Meera” in 1945 as Saint Meera Bai. She was named the ‘Nightingale of India’ by Sarojini Naidu and “Tapaswini” by Lata Mangeshkar, while Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan called her as “Suswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi. She was the initial musician to be awarded Bharat Ratna.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan was born in Gwalior, Madya Pradesh in 1945. His family is intensely entrenched in the Senia Bangash Gharana. He acknowledged training from his father, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan. His originations donate to sarod playing. His versions of multifaceted ragas, such as Raga Shree, Raga Durga, and Raga Zila Kafi, are masterpieces. The French government presented him the UNESCO Award and the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Pandit jasraj

Pandit Jasraj is a renowned vocalist from Mewati Gharana. He popularized the Haveli sangeet, a semi-classical style, and shaped the innovative jarring jugalbandi. He has brought classical music songs to all over the globe. Pandit Jasraj is a carrier of Indian tunes to the world. He has followers all over the world and admirers worldwide. Pandit Jasraj has contributed immensely to Indian classical music. He was introduced to music by his father.

Panditji has been honored with India’s highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Shri, the third and fourth civilian awards, respectively, for his contribution to classical music of India. In addition to all these awards, he has been awarded several awards by the government of India and several state governments and institutions. Also, the Harvard University Art Museum honoured Panditji and Kalawati with the title of ‘Excellent Musician’.

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