Indian Classical Music

‘Ustad Zakir Hussain led me to the Green Room Gharana of photography’: artist Dayanita Singh

How to photograph a celebrity: Dayanita Singh first photographed feted Hindustani Classical musician Zakir Hussain when she was 18. Over the next 43 years, her archive of pictures of the Ustad – laughing, practising, teaching, sleeping, touring – grew into the 100s. For an upcoming photo exhibition in Delhi, Singh has culled 72 pictures that marked her initiation into what she now calls the ‘Green Room Gharana’ of photography.

Mahesh Kale on Riyaaz, rhythm, his viral Kaanada Raja song and the living tradition of Indian classical music

At a time when Indian classical music is expanding across digital and global platforms, National Award-winning vocalist Mahesh Kale stands out, seamlessly blending Hindustani classical, abhang, natya sangeet and devotional traditions with contemporary accessibility.

Anoushka Shankar makes history as the first Indian musician on ‘The Graham Norton Show

Celebrated sitarist Anoushka Shankar has made history by becoming the first Indian musician to appear on the iconic British talk show, The Graham Norton Show. Her appearance, which aired on February 13, 2026, follows her highly successful Chapters Tour 2026 in India and marks a major milestone in her 30-year musical career.

Amit Dutta, the little-known most famous Indian auteur: ‘The kind of films I make should be sought out, not thrust upon people’

International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025: In this final instalment of a two-part interview, the unparalleled Amit Dutta talks about his practice & influences, David Lynch, artist’s anxieties and trade-offs & why film bodies are irreplaceable.

‘Kumar Gandharva was not just a musical genius but also a profound scholar & thinker’: Amit Dutta & Kuldeep Barve

International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025: In this first instalment of a two-part interview, indie filmmaker Amit Dutta & music composer Kuldeep Barve talk about their latest animation film 'Phool ka Chhand (Rhythm of a Flower)', on singing legend Pandit Kumar Gandharva, whose birth centenary was last year.

Shankar Mahadevan Mesmerizes Crowd with 'Chalo Kumbh Chale' Performance at Maha Kumbh 2025

Watch Shankar Mahadevan's electrifying performance of 'Chalo Kumbh Chale' at Maha Kumbh 2025! Get ready to be mesmerized by his soulful voice and energetic stage presence.

Bickram Ghosh: ‘With Zakir Hussain, the sun is gone; we’ve lost somebody who truly stood for something’

Serendipity Arts Festival 2024: The unique selling point of the multidisciplinary arts festival is the River Raag, and this year, the first time in nine years of the festival, percussion set pieces by Carnatic legends BC Manjunath (mridangam) and Suresh Vaidyanathan (ghatam) regaled the audiences afloat on river Mandovi in Goa.

Zakir Hussain, Legendary Tabla Maestro, Passes Away At 73 In US Hospital

Zakir Hussain, the legendary Indian tabla maestro, passed away at the age of 73 in a San Francisco hospital. His family confirmed the news after he had been hospitalized for two weeks and later moved to the ICU due to his worsening condition. Prior to the official confirmation, rumors of his death circulated, but his sister, Khursheed, stated that he was still "very much breathing" despite being critical. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had prematurely announced his death on social media but later deleted the post. Hussain, the son of renowned tabla player Allah Rakha, was one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, earning prestigious honors such as the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Over a career spanning six decades, he won five Grammy Awards, including three in 2023. Hussain was known for his international collaborations, notably blending Indian classical music with jazz in the groundbreaking 1973 project with John McLaughlin.

A start-up that's all for shehnai-sitar-tabla wedding tunes, and why Indian Classical music has always been wedding chic

Indian Classical Music at weddings is not a thing of the past. A Dubai-headquartered Indian startup is connecting families and musicians to bring the sitar, shehnai, tabla, piano and vocals back into wedding functions.

Mumbai to celebrate Holi with 3rd Fagunotsav's musical concerts

Ring in Holi this year with the many hues of Hindustani classical dance and music at the Veer Savarkar Auditorium in Dadar on March 23.

Anoushka Shankar: ‘I feel more comfortable being vulnerable in my music in a way that I wasn’t before’

The nine-time Grammy-nominated musician and Sitar player on allowing vulnerability to be part of her journey as an artist, new mini-album and forthcoming tour in India in January 2024.