Facts about Indian Music and Musicians

7 Facts about Indian Music and Musicians I bet you never knew!

After discovering the astonishing facts of India, here are some fascinating facts about Indian music and musicians. Known as ‘sangeet’ in India, the music here has got the oldest traditions and heritage in the world. The origin of Indian music can be found in the Vedas, the ancient scriptures. As compared to other music forms in the world, it has got a varied and unique style.

1. First woman Shehnai player of india:

Bageshwari Qamar, crowned as “Shehnai Queen” in Chandigarh, is India’s first woman Shehnai vadak. She represented India at “The Bharat Mahotsav”, held in Russia, in the year 1988. Along with solo recordings, she has also recorded “jugal-bandi”, with her guru, Ustad Bismillah khan.

2. First woman Sarod player of India:

Sharan Rani, born in 1929, in Delhi, is the first woman sarod player of India. She is popularly known as Sarod Rani and she played Sarod for almost 70 years. She learnt playing sarod from the great music maestros like Ustad Ali Akbar and Ustad Allaudin Khan.

3. First music school in India:

“Gandharva Mahavidyalaya”, in Lahore (which was then part of India), set up by “Pandit Vishnu Digambar paluskar” on 5th may, 1901, is the first music school in India.The school was run by the funds raised by public support, concerts and the richer class of the society. After independence, eventually the school was shifted to Mumbai.

4. First Musician to receive Padma Bhushan Award:

MS Subbulakshmi, was the first musician to receive Padma Bhushan Award and it was in the year 1954. Later, in 1975, she was also awarded with Padma Vibhushan Award. She was popularly known as the Nightingale of India.

5. First folk album in India:

‘Banjaran’, by Ila Arun, was the first folk album of India. It was released in the year 1983. Ila Arun is famous for her husky voice and incredible talent. She majorly sings folk songs and also won the Filmfare best singer award in the year 1993.

6. First computerised album of India:

‘Baby Doll’, sung by Alisha Chinoy, released in the year 1988 by HMV, is the first computerised album of India. Rajesh Johri, who also happens to be Alisha’s husband, was the sound engineer of the album. Popularly, she is known as Indian Madonna, and she made Indipop history with music album, ‘Made in India’.

7. First Hindi rap album:

‘Thanda Thanda Pani’, by Harjeet Singh Sehgal (popularly known as Baba Sehgal), was the first Hindi rap and it was a remake of “Ice Ice Baby’ by Vanilla Ice. Surprisingly, Baba Sehgal happens to be an engineer by profession.