India is a country abundant with diverse cultures, traditions, practices, and talents. Among these talents, music and the arts hold a prominent place. Indians are known for their creativity and excellence in various fields they pursue. The music industry in particular has witnessed numerous renowned vocalists and musicians who have brought Indian music to global recognition. These individuals possess exceptional charisma, talent, and a melodious voice or mastery of an instrument that can captivate even those who claim not to be fond of music. Here we present a compilation of ten legendary Indian musicians throughout history..
Contents
- 1 Top 10 Renowned Indian Musicians
- 2 Top 10 Celebrated Indian Music Artists
- 3 Top 10 Renowned Indian Musicians: A.R. Rahman
- 4 Top 10 Celebrated Indian Musicians
- 5 Top 10 Notable Indian Musicians
- 6 Who is the singer in India that nobody knows?
- 7 Top 10 Acclaimed Indian Musicians
- 8 Who is the king of singing in India?
- 9 Top 10 Notable Indian Music Artists
- 10 Top 10 Singers in India
- 11 Top 10 Prominent Indian Music Artists
- 12 Popular Music in India
- 13 Top 10 Acclaimed Indian Music Artists
- 14 Top 10 Iconic Indian Music Artists
- 15 Who possesses the finest vocal talent in India?
Top 10 Renowned Indian Musicians
Pt. Ravi Shankar, a sitar virtuoso as he is known wide and far, is renowned for popularizing Indian classical music globally. Pandit Shankar was a disciple of the famous Allauddin Khan and his collaborations with George Harrison of famous band ‘The Beatles’ brought Indian classical music to Western audiences. His mastery over the sitar and his innovative compositions established him as a respected figure in the world of music.
Top 10 Celebrated Indian Music Artists
Lata Mangeshkar, also dearly called the ‘Nightingale of India’, had a career spanning seven decades in playback singing for Indian cinema. Her soulful voice, singing, versatility and the ability to convey diverse emotions through her voice made her an unparalleled legend in the world of playback singing. Her death brought a wave of sadness around the world and many famous singers paid their tributes to her.
Top 10 Renowned Indian Musicians: A.R. Rahman
A man like no other, A.R. Rahman is a composer and musician, who completely changed, enhanced and revolutionized Indian film music. His fusion of Indian classical music and tunes with contemporary sounds gave him global recognition and fame. Rahman has also won the Academy Award and 2 Grammy’s, with songs spanning almost every beloved genre. Rahman’s compositions reflect innovation, true creativity and cultural richness.
Top 10 Celebrated Indian Musicians
One of the most celebrated musicians of all time, R.D. Burman was a hit name in the Indian music industry. He was dearly called ‘Pancham Da’, and redefined Bollywood music in the 1970s and 1980s. He created timeless melodies that entertain audiences even today and forces them to dance to the mesmerizing tones. He composed music across various genres, infusing each composition with his unique style. His collaborations with legendary lyricists and singers resulted in chart-topping hits.
Top 10 Notable Indian Musicians
Renowned in the music field, Ustad Zakir Hussain is a tabla virtuoso who is highly regarded for his expertise and creativity. He can be considered as an exceptional prodigy since he performed his first concert at a very young age of 7. His partnerships with musicians from various genres and cultures demonstrate his proficiency in diverse musical styles and his remarkable ability to push the limits of traditional tabla playing.
Who is the singer in India that nobody knows?
In India, Arjit Singh is recognized as:
1. The leading singer according to various public surveys.
2. A vocalist with a remarkable talent for conveying feelings of love, pain, and joy through his voice.
Top 10 Acclaimed Indian Musicians
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a renowned musician in the field of Hindustani classical music possessed a captivating voice that had the power to captivate even those who were not initially interested in music. He was well-known for his expertise in singing Khayal and his performances showcased unmatched depth and emotion, which led to him receiving numerous prestigious awards and recognition.
Who is the king of singing in India?
He has sung many hit songs in Bollywood movies, which have become chartbusters and received immense praise from both critics and audiences. Some of his most famous songs include “Tum Hi Ho” from the movie “Aashiqui 2,” “Channa Mereya” from the film “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,” and “Gerua” from the movie “Dilwale.”
Top 10 Notable Indian Music Artists
The son of a wrestler with no prior teaching of music, Hariprasad Chaurasia made quite the name for himself. He is a celebrated classical flutist, and has a mastery in playing the bansuri in Hindustani Classical tradition. Chaurasia’s passion for music led him to pursue classical vocal training from a neighbour at the age of 15. His musical journey was looked after by Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, a renowned flutist from Varanasi. He began his career in All India Radio (AIR) in Cuttack, Orissa and then moved to AIR Bombay, where his talent got to the film industry.
Top 10 Singers in India
In the realm of Indian music, there are several renowned playback singers who have left a lasting impact. Some notable names include A.R. Rahman, Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal, K.J. Yesudas, Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh and Mohammed Rafi. Among them all, Mohammed Rafi stands out as an iconic figure in Indian music history. He is highly revered and celebrated for his exceptional talent and is often hailed as one of the greatest playback singers ever to grace the industry.
Top 10 Prominent Indian Music Artists
Ustad Bismillah Khan was a shehnai maestro, who made the instrument popular outside of the association it had with wedding trumpets and such. Ustad Bismillah Khan gave Shehnai a global stage and was encouraged by the Indian government to perform in international festivals and shows. His performances and contributions to Indian classical music earned him the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
Popular Music in India
In 2022, almost half of the people from India who participated in a worldwide music survey said that they mostly listened to modern Bollywood music through online streaming. This means that out of every 100 Indian respondents, around 49 of them preferred to listen to Bollywood songs on platforms like Spotify or Gaana.
The survey also revealed that among all the different types or genres of music available for streaming in India, five out of ten were related to Bollywood. This means that a significant portion of popular Indian music falls under this category. It shows how influential and widely appreciated Bollywood music is within the country.
Overall, these findings highlight the immense popularity and influence of modern Bollywood music among Indians today. With almost half choosing it as their primary choice for online streaming, it clearly holds a special place in their hearts and playlists.
Top 10 Acclaimed Indian Music Artists
T.H. Vinayakram is known as the ‘God of ghatam’, who gained fame for popularising the earthen pot instrument, ghatam. This Grammy-winning musician is an expert in Carnatic music and has earned prestigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Vinayakram’s mastery of the ghatam has not only garnered him international recognition but has also established him as an innovative man who brought fame to a rather regional and underrated musical equipment.
Top 10 Iconic Indian Music Artists
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, a renowned Santoor maestro, was born in Jammu and Kashmir in 1938. He gained fame for revolutionizing the perception of playing the Santoor and popularizing it within classical music. During his teenage years, he was introduced to the lesser-known instrument of Santoor in Hindustani classical music. From then on, he dedicated himself to mastering the Santoor with the goal of blending it seamlessly into classical music. In 1955, he made his debut as a Santoor performer in Bombay, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Who possesses the finest vocal talent in India?
Moving on to another musical legend, we have Asha Bhosle, whose versatile voice has enchanted audiences for decades. Known for her versatility and range, Asha Bhosle effortlessly transitions between various genres such as classical, pop, ghazals (poetic songs), and playback singing for films. Her collaborations with legendary composers like R.D Burman have resulted in timeless classics that continue to be cherished by millions of fans around the world.
