Discover the Rhythms of India: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About Indian Music You Need to Know!

1. Nature's Musical Inspiration

Move over, Mother Nature! Indian classical music is out here trying to steal your thunder – or maybe just borrow a note or two: Indian ragas are specifically tuned to different times of the day and seasons, while their instruments like the sitar owe their unique sound to the bird-song inspired twang contained within their hollow necks and gourd-shaped belly.
Source => makingmusic.org.uk

2. The Vittalla Pillars' Stone-Cold Jamming

In a rock and roll twist on "architecture with a beat," India's Vittala Temple in Hampi redefines the meaning of "stone-cold jamming" with the real-life rock band of the architectural world: The Vittalla Pillars: These 56 mysterious musical pillars, named after the first four notes of the Indian classical music scale, date back to the 15th century and produce different musical notes when struck, despite being made of solid rock and of the same dimension. Researchers from the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research examined these maestros of masonry using non-destructive techniques but couldn't strike a chord with the secret behind their melodious diversity.
Source => earthlymission.com

Did you know Haydn's tomb has two skulls? Find out the bizarre reason and the curious head-napping tale from the 19th century!

=> Fun Facts about Classical-Music

3. Epic Bollywood Song Sequences

When you're stuck in a never-ending Zoom meeting, and it feels like time stands still, just remember that Bollywood has turned lengthy movie scenes into a fine art: For example, the song "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo" from the film of the same name stretches out for an impressive 15 minutes, making it the longest Bollywood song sequence ever shot. Other contenders for the title include "Main Kahin Bhi Rahoon" at 12:53 minutes and "Sandese Aate Hai," a 10:40-minute musical masterpiece by Anu Malik.
Source => flutin.com

4. Ilaiyaraaja: Indian Beethoven-Mozart Love Child

If Beethoven and Mozart had an Indian love child, it'd probably be Ilaiyaraaja: This legendary composer has over 7,000 songs to his name, scored more than 1,000 films, pioneered western classical music in Tamil cinema, and became the first South Asian to compose a full symphony. Bow down to the maestro sporting India's shiny civilian honors, the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Raga Rock Meets Psychedelia

Before the world was YOLO-ing and binge-watching, it was rocking and ragging with riffs from the East: Raga rock, a groovy fusion of Indian classical music and the electric vibes of the 1960s rock scene, had iconic bands like the Yardbirds, the Kinks, and the Beatles mixing in sitars, tablas, and mystical themes. This psychedelic movement spread like sitar-fire, even inspiring George Harrison's music on legendary albums like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Love in the World of Ragas

Love and ragas: sometimes it's complicated, sometimes it's pure harmony, but one thing is certain – there's no Tinder to swipe a perfect match in the world of Indian classical music! The serious reveal: With countless ragas evoking a variety of emotions, no specific raga is devoted solely to love and romance; instead, the music depends on the performer's creativity and improvisation for passionate expressions.
Source => exoticindiaart.com

7. Raja Kumari: The Godzilla Queen of Indian Rap

Move over Godzilla, there's a new queen stomping onto the scene: Raja Kumari, an Indian rapper and singer, who's worked with huge artists like Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, Fifth Harmony, and Knife Party, launched her own music label 'Godmother Records' and even teamed up with Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit for the song 'Made In India', all while rocking her signature fierce fashion.
Source => outlookindia.com

8. Shehnai: The Good Fortune Wedding Crasher

Why did the shehnai get invited to all the best Indian weddings? It's known to blow people away with good fortune: This traditional wind instrument, similar to an oboe, has a history of being played at auspicious occasions like North Indian weddings and temple rituals. Once a staple of royal court ensembles, the shehnai's classical music career was catapulted to fame by Ustad Bismillah Khan, solidifying its presence as a must-have for life's important celebrations.
Source => yaclass.in