1. Classical Music
- Hindustani Classical Music (North India)
- Dhrupad: Ancient style of classical music, known for its slow and meditative approach.
- Khyal: More flexible and emotional, this style includes both vocal and instrumental performances.
- Thumri: A lighter, more expressive form of classical music, often focused on love and devotion.
- Tappa: A form of classical music with rapid, intricate movements, often based on folk melodies.
- Ghazal: A form of poetic and romantic music with classical roots, often performed with instrumental accompaniment.
- Carnatic Classical Music (South India)
- Kritis: Structured compositions typically written in regional languages and performed with ragas and talas.
- Varnam: A musical piece used to warm up the voice and set the tone for a performance.
- Kirtanas: Devotional songs, usually sung in praise of gods.
- Javali: A lighter and more expressive form of Carnatic music, often dealing with themes of love and devotion.
2. Folk Music
- Rural Folk Music: Reflecting local traditions, these forms vary widely across regions, often accompanying dances and festivals.
- Bhangra (Punjab)
- Garba (Gujarat)
- Lavani (Maharashtra)
- Bihu (Assam)
- Kalbelia (Rajasthan)
- Dandiya (Gujarat)
- Tribal and Regional Folk Music: Often linked to tribal customs, these include:
- Sambalpuri (Odisha)
- Bhojpuri (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh)
- Madhubani (Bihar)
- Madhya Pradesh Folk Music (Gond and Baiga tribal music)
3. Devotional Music
- Bhajans: Devotional songs, often sung in praise of gods and deities.
- Kirtans: Congregational singing of hymns or mantras, associated with religious and spiritual gatherings.
- Qawwali: Sufi devotional music, often performed at Sufi shrines, blending poetry with spiritual themes.
- Shabad Kirtan: Sikh devotional music, sung in praise of Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus.
4. Popular and Film Music
- Bollywood Music: The most popular form of Indian music today, featuring music composed for Hindi-language films. This includes a wide variety of genres, including romantic, action, classical, and dance music.
- Indi-pop: A genre of popular music that blends Indian sounds with modern pop music, with artists like Alisha Chinai, Daler Mehndi, and Hariharan contributing to its rise.
- Independent Music: Non-film music from independent artists, often blending genres like rock, fusion, electronic, and folk.
5. Fusion and Contemporary Music
- Indian Fusion: A mix of traditional Indian music with Western genres such as jazz, rock, and electronic. This includes collaborations between Indian musicians and international artists.
- Indo-Jazz: A blend of jazz and Indian classical music, pioneered by musicians like John McLaughlin and Ravi Shankar.
- World Music: Global music genres influenced by Indian instruments, rhythms, and melodies, popular in both India and internationally.
6. Instrumental Music
- Sitar: A stringed instrument, famous for its use in Hindustani classical music.
- Tabla: A pair of hand-played drums, central to both Hindustani and Carnatic music.
- Veena: A South Indian string instrument, often associated with Carnatic music.
- Sarod: A stringed instrument known for its deep, resonant sound.
- Flute: Played in both classical and folk traditions, it’s a key instrument in Hindustani and Carnatic music.
- Mridangam: A drum used in Carnatic music, played in accompaniment to various compositions.
7. Jazz and Western Music in India
- Jazz Fusion: The blending of jazz with Indian music, as seen in the works of musicians like Shakti (John McLaughlin) and Trilok Gurtu.
- Rock and Pop Music: Western rock and pop music influences are prevalent in Indian music, with Indian artists forming rock bands like Indian Ocean, Parikrama, and Euphoria.
8. Light and Semi-Classical Music
- Thumri: A semi-classical form, lighter and more romantic.
- Dadra: A form of semi-classical music with poetic and melodic expressions.
- Ghazals: Songs of love, loss, and longing, often associated with Persian and Urdu poetry.
9. Electronic and Experimental Music
- Electronic Music: The use of technology in music production, blending with traditional instruments to create unique soundscapes. Indian artists like A. R. Rahman and Nucleya have popularized this genre.
- Ambient and Experimental: New-age and experimental music blending Indian instruments with global electronic trends.
