Highlights
India has gifted the world with a number of great musicians who have contributed a lot to world music. This paper aims to discuss the biographies of 10 great Indian musicians who have contributed immensely to the musical world of India and the world at large. From the masters of classical Indian music to the rebels of modern Indian music, these artists are the true treasure of India. Not only have they enthralled millions with their skills on instruments, new compositions, and powerful voices, but they have also contributed to the preservation and development of Indian music.
1) Pt. Ravi Shankar – The Sitar Virtuoso
Pandit Ravi Shankar is considered as one of the most influential musicians of Indian classical music. He is a cultural icon due to his mastery of the sitar and his attempts at introducing Indian music to the world. Shankar’s associations with other western artists, especially George Harrison of the Beatles, was instrumental in popularizing Indian classical music in the west.
2) Ustad Zakir Hussain – The Tabla Maestro
Ustad Zakir Hussain is well known for his mastery of the tabla and his talent to bring together people from different cultures and with different musical backgrounds. Born in 1976, Hussain began his musical career at the tender age of seven, and has since then grown to become the world’s foremost exponent of Indian percussion.
3) Pt. Bhimsen Joshi : The Devotional Singer
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was one of the greatest exponents of Hindustani classical music, especially the Khayal genre of singing. He could sing soulful and religious experiences and that made him one of the most respected vocalists in the field of Indian classical music.
4) A. R. Rahman – The Mozart of Madras
A. R. Rahman has reinvented Indian film music with his creativity that adds Indian music to the global music platform. He has worked in films like “Roja” and “Slumdog Millionaire” for which he has been awarded two Oscars and two Grammy awards.
5) R.D. Burman – The Maverick Composer
R.D. Burman, affectionately known as Pancham Da, redefined Bollywood music in the 1970s and 1980s. His eclectic style, which incorporated elements from various genres and cultures, produced countless hit songs that remain popular today.
6) Lata Mangeshkar – The Nightingale of India
Lata Mangeshkar who sang for seven decades became one of the most influential personalities in the field of Indian music. Her voice was quite versatile and she could sing in many languages, which made her reign the playback singing for generations.
7) The Flute Maestro – Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia is one of the leading and most respected classical musicians in India because of his perfect mastery of the bansuri or the bamboo flute. Chaurasia although had no musical background in his family, he was able to dedicate himself and his talent to bring the status of the bansuri to a higher level in the Hindustani classical music.
8) Ustad Bismillah Khan – The Shehnai Legend
It was Ustad Bismillah Khan who single handedly introduced the shehnai which was earlier used only in religious carnivals to the concert arena. His passion for his work and soulful singing made him get India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
9) T. H. Vinayakram: The Maestro of the Ghatam
T. H. Vinayakram, who is also referred to as the ‘God of ghatam’ has taken this percussion instrument to the international level. He was able to introduce new methods of playing and engage international artists to help this traditional South Indian instrument gain recognition.
10) Pandit Shivkumar Sharma – The Santoor Pioneer
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma brought the santoor, a folk instrument from Kashmir into the mainstream Indian classical music. Sharma worked hard and introduced new methods which helped him change the image of the santoor and make it accepted as a classical instrument.
