Unit 3: Indian Artistic Tradition

Importance of Indian Traditional Art

1. Indian art reflects the country’s rich history and diverse culture. It showcases the creativity, skill, and
talent of Indian artists and serves as a record of the country’s cultural traditions and values.
2. Indian art plays a significant role in preserving and promoting India’s cultural heritage. It helps to keep
alive the traditions and customs of the country and allows future generations to appreciate and
understand their cultural roots.
3. Indian art can be a source of inspiration and pride for the people of India and can be enjoyed by people
of all ages and backgrounds. It can also promote cultural exchange and understanding between different
communities and nations.
4. Indian art has had a significant influence on other cultures around the world, particularly in areas such
as architecture, music, and dance. It has contributed to the development of many art forms and styles
that are now recognized and appreciated globally.
5. The study and appreciation of Indian art can also promote critical thinking and cultural literacy, as it
encourages people to examine and understand the artistic, historical, and cultural contexts in which the
art was created.
6. Indian art can help to foster a sense of national identity and pride among the people of India. It can also
help to bridge cultural divides and bring people together through a shared appreciation of the country’s
artistic and cultural heritage.
7. Indian art is an important part of the country’s tourism industry and attracts visitors from around the
world who are interested in learning more about the country’s rich cultural traditions.
8. Indian art is an important contributor to the country’s economy, with many artists and craftspeople
making a living through the sale of their work.
9. Indian art is a way for the country to engage with the rest of the world and share its cultural traditions
and values with a global audience.
10. The study and appreciation of Indian art can also promote understanding and respect for different
cultures and help to foster a sense of global citizenship.

Indian Artistry: Paintings In India

Indian painting has a very long tradition and history in Indian art, though because of the climatic
conditions very few early examples survive. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings
of prehistoric times. Some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are
approximately 10,000 years old. India's ancient Hindu and Buddhist literature has many mentions of
palaces and other buildings decorated with paintings (chitra), but the paintings of the Ajanta Caves are the
most significant of the few ones which survive.
Indian paintings can be broadly classified as murals, miniatures and paintings on cloth. Murals are large
works executed on the walls of solid structures, as in the Ajanta Caves and the Kailashnath
temple. Miniature paintings are executed on a very small scale for books or albums on perishable material
such as paper and cloth. Paintings on cloth were often produced in a more popular context, often as folk
art, used for example by travelling reciters of epic poetry, such as
the Bhopas of Rajasthan and Chitrakathi elsewhere, and bought as souvenirs of pilgrimages.
The rich cultural diversity of Indian art is well reflected in the vivid, distinct and enchanting folk art and
crafts. Various painting styles are prevalent across various regions, each representing tradition, customs,
and ideologies passed on from one generation to other. Traditionally, most of the Indian painting styles
existed as wall paintings or murals. In due course of time, urbanisation brought these painting forms on
paper, canvas, and cloth etc. Indian painting styles are not just a reflection of the indigenous lifestyle but a
perfect example of artistic expression through simple yet distinct compositions.
Indian Popular Painting Styles: Some of the popular Indian styles are as follows:

1. Madhubani Paintings

One of the most celebrated styles of Indian art is, Madhubani which originated in the Mithila region of
Bihar as a form of wall art. The painting is one of the oldest and most famous Indian art forms which is
also practised in Nepal. This spectacular folk art style was unknown to the outside world until discovered
by the British colonial William G. Archer in 1934 while inspecting the damage after the massive Bihar
earthquake. Archer was amazed by the beautiful illustrations on the exposed interior walls of the houses.
The beauty of Madhubani lies in its simple portrayal of culture and traditions. The designs are characterised
by eye-catching geometrical patterns, symbolic images, and scenes from mythology. The balance between
the vibrancy of colors and simplicity in its patterns make Madhubani different from other painting styles.
This type of Indian painting uses many tools like fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, matchsticks, and natural
colors. These are done on walls, floors of holy places, canvases, etc. The Madhubani paintings are
characterized by their geometrical patterns and are widely practiced in the Madhubani district in Bihar.
Originally, these paintings were done on mud walls and soil ground or floors. Now, they are also done on
canvases, cloth, and handmade paper.
The themes of Madhubani paintings are mostly scenes from nature like sun, moon, tulsi plants and scenes
from mythology and Hindu deities like Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc. They also
include Ardhanarishvara, court scenes, social events, and wedding scenes. The origin of this art form dates
back to the Ramayana period when Raja Janak (Sita’s father) requested the villagers to decorate the whole
village on the occasion of Prince Rama’s and Sita’s wedding. Many Madhubani artists received several
awards such as the National award and Padma Shri making the art form famous and recognized. Eminent
Artists of Madhubani Paintings are Karpuri Devi, Mahalaxmi and Dulari.

2. Warli Paintings:
This form of tribal art belongs to one of the major tribes, the Warlis, in Maharashtra. It has been practiced
for over 2500 years. Warli paintings of the Thane and Nasik areas of Maharashtra are closely linked with
nature and social rituals of the tribe. It mostly depicts the daily activities of the local people such as farming,
dancing, praying, hunting, sowing, etc., and the elements of nature. These paintings focus on showing social
and daily life. They are closely connected to nature rather than showing mythological characters and deities.
Warli paintings are traditionally done on the mud walls of huts using twigs with rice paste. Initially, only
two colours were used in the Warli art, i.e., Earth Brown and white obtained from rice paste. However, with
time, the background colours of the Warli paintings also included colours like black, Indigo, Orchha, earthy
mud, brick red, and Heena.
These paintings are characterized by white-colored, simple geometric designs and patterns like triangles,
squares, and circles. Mountains and pointed trees are represented by a triangle, human inventions by square.
The sun and moon are represented by the circle. The circular patterns also represent their belief that death
is just another start. The central motif of a Warli painting is their Mother Goddess, Palaghat, who is their
symbol of fertility. A marriage cannot take place without the sacred Warli paintings that represent Palaghat.
Originally, the paintings were done on walls, but gradually, it was drawn on various other objects like mud
pots, cloth, bamboo, etc. These paintings are now also done on canvas, paper, and cloth and have become
very popular. Jivya Soma Mashe, a renowned Indian artist and a legendary Warli artist made the art form
popular. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2011 for his contribution towards Warli painting.

3. Phad:

This type of Indian folk painting is practiced in the state of Rajasthan, India. Phad painting is a religious
scroll painting style and traditionally done on a long piece of cloth or canvas which is known as Phad in
hues of red, yellow and orange. Phads depict the folk deities of Rajasthan, battlefields, adventure stories,
legendary romances and the richness of the Indian princely states. The Bhopas, priest-singers of the folk
deities in Rajasthan carry and perform in front of a Phad using it as a portable temple. It is a narrative scroll
painting tradition on which stories of their deities and heroes like Prithviraj Chauhan are painted in mostly
red, yellow, and orange colors. Artists use natural paints sourced from stones, flowers, plants and herbs.
Phad paintings depict battlefields, adventures, romance, etc. A unique aspect of Phad paintings is that the
construction of the figures is flat, and they all face each other, instead of facing the audience (viewer) of
the painting. These paintings are very detailed and artists manage to accommodate many stories at once
using every inch of the canvas. The Joshi community extensively practiced the Phad art form and later
Shree Lal Joshi, a world-renowned Phad artist, and Padma Shree as well as Shilpguru award winner, who
preserved and modernized this style, opened a school ‘Chitrashala’ for everyone to learn and practice the
art form. Nand Kishor Joshi, Shanti Lal Joshi, Kalyan Joshi, Gopal Joshi, Prakash Joshi, and Vijay Joshi
are Phad artists.

4. Kalamkari: This 3000-year-old organic art of hand and block printing was traditionally used for
making narrative scrolls and panels. Derived from the words “Kalam” meaning pen and “Kari” meaning
craftsmanship, the Kalamkari art form is practiced by many families and people in Andhra Pradesh and
some villages in Tamil Nadu. Kalamkari usually depicts scenes from epics like Ramayana and
Mahabharata, musical instruments, animals, Buddha and Buddhist art, flowers, peacock and Hindu symbols
like swastika. Kalamkari is an organic hand-printing or block-printing Indian folk art form which has been
practiced for over 3000 years. The painting is done using a Kalam or a bamboo reed on fabric. Natural and
earthy colors and vegetable dyes are used like indigo, green, rust, black, and mustard. It is generally done
on cotton fabric and it involves a twenty-three steps process. The Kalamkari art form is widely used on
sarees and ethnic wear and is very popular. Gaurang Shah beautifully portrayed Kalamkari sarees

5. Gond Painting: This art form is Indian folk and tribal art. They are practiced by the people of the
Gond community in Madhya Pradesh. The word “Gond” has been derived from the Dravidian expression
Kond meaning the green mountain. This art form has been practiced for over 1400 years. They usually
depict flora and fauna, people’s daily lives, deities, festivals, and celebrations. Gond artists portray nature
in various ways in paintings because they believe that the life of man and nature are interlinked. They
recreate mythological stories, nature, important occasions, and rituals. These are bold, bright, and vibrant
paintings with very intricate work and rich detailing. The Gond tribe is one of the oldest and the largest
tribes in the country. Originally, the colors used in Gond art were derived from natural resources like cow
dung, plant sap, charcoal, colored soil, mud, flowers, leaves, etc. But nowadays, artists use synthetic colors
such as acrylic colors, watercolors, oil paints, etc. The designs include simple textures achieved using dots,
straight lines, dotted lines curvy shapes and circles. Women use natural colors to paint the mud walls and
floors of their homes.
Jangarh Singh Shyam, a Gond art legend and flagbearer of Gond art, made the art form so popular. He was
the person who revived the art form and took it to new heights. He was also the first Gond artist to use
canvas and paper for his work. He exhibited his painting internationally in museums thus making the art
form internationally recognized and famous. Some internationally acclaimed and celebrated artists who
have contributed to this art form are Jangarh Singh Shyam, Bhajju Shyam, Venkat Shyam, and Durga Bai
Shyam.

6. Kerala Murals
The vibrant Kerala mural paintings are one of the world’s most famous frescos and have deep spiritual roots
depicting themes of Hindu mythology, epics, the classic frolics of Krishna as well as the mystic forms of
Siva and Shakti. They also recount some legendary heroes of the bygone era. This traditional art style dates
to the seventh and eighth century AD and is characterised by vivacious imagery, bold strokes, and vivid
colours. Ochre-red, yellow- ochre, bluish- green, white and pure colors are predominantly used in Kerala
mural painting. The artists use paint brushes made from elephant grass (Kuntalipullu) or tree roots. They
coat the blue and green areas with a copper sulphate solution. This protects the natural, organic pigments
from being damaged by bugs and insects. Manikandan Punnakkal, Vishnu P Vikraman are popular artists
of Kerala Murals.
7. Mandana Art

Mandana art form is decorative, tribal, and one of the oldest forms of Indian art. Mandana refers to 'drawing'
in the sense of Chitra Mandana or drawing a picture in the local language. Mandana comes from the term
Mandan, which means "decoration and beauty." It is drawn on the walls and floors of houses in Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh as a way to protect their home and fireplace. Mandanas are made to welcome gods
and also on a festive occasion. The women of the Meena community in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are
the first Mandana artists. The Mandana paintings are very simple yet eye-catching. These paintings are
made using a piece of cotton, twigs, a bunch of squirrel hair, and a simple brush made from a date stick.
The base is prepared using cow dung mixed with rati (local clay), water, and red ochre. For making the
motif, lime, brick, and chalk powder are used. The color scheme of these paintings is simple, consisting of
white and red, and was chosen precisely because it is easily available in the community's natural
surroundings. The white paint, known as khadiya, is made of chalk, while the red paint, known as geru, is
made of brick. Some basic designs of Mandana paintings are peacocks, tigers, floral, women working, Lord
Ganesha, geometrical shapes, jaali, and Vedic yagna. Vidya Devi Soni is the eminent artist who kept this
art alive and made popular.

Indian Dance Forms:

Indian classical dancing started around 200 BCE in India, as a joyful and celebratory activity, often in
devotion to Hindu deities. Many of the performances are choreographed to retell stories of the gods and
other historical accounts. All styles of Indian classical dance are vibrant, expressive and spiritual. Dance
performances usually take place at festivals, universities, various cultural events, and more. In
performances, the dancers move to the beat of the song or music that is playing. The dancer takes the role
of the character that they are portraying in the performance, the composition being specific, and become
emotionally connected with the story and the audience.

Dancers wear traditional clothes including sarees, lenghas, and kurtas. Usually, women are the main
performers in Indian classical dancing, but men too perform classical dance. The costume for women
usually consists of a long, colorful, handmade gown (worn without shoes), with an intricately embroidered
pattern(s) and beading on it. For accessories, there is the use of much ornate jewelry, such as necklaces,
rings, earrings, nose-rings, bracelets and anklets, sometimes with bells attached which ring each time the
dancer stomps their foot in rhythm. The costume also includes a head-piece or some form of scarf,
depending on the style. The women usually wear considerable amounts of facial makeup, not only to be
noticeable from the audience, but to fully embody their character. The Natya Shastra is the foundational
treatise for classical dances of India, and this text is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni. Its first
complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE.
Indian Classical Dance Forms: Classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the
Ministry of Culture are

1. Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu

2. Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh
3. Kathakali, from Kerala
4. Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh
5. Manipuri, from Manipur
6. Mohiniyattam, from Kerala

1. BHARATNATYAM:

Bharatanatyam is a dance of Tamil Nadu in southern India. This dance form originated in the temples and
courts of southern India. Originally a temple dance for women, Bharatanatyam often is used to express
Hindu religious stories and devotions. It was not commonly seen on the public stage until the 20th century.
The dance movements are characterized by bent legs, while feet keep rhythm. Hands may be used in a
series of mudras, or symbolic hand gestures, to tell a story. The costumes of the dancer are gorgeous. The
costumes consists of a dothi for both male and female dancers. It is usually of richly embroidered brocade
or shimmering silk or satin. It fits snugly above the ankles and is pleated along the legs, which it encases.
Over the dhoti, in the middle, is a pleated or frilled cloth hanging from the waist to perhaps the knees.
Armlets, wristlets or bangles, earrings and necklaces serve to enhance the dancers appearance. Women
wear a veni or semi circle of real or artificial flowers round the bun or plait of the hair. In the centre of the
forehead a tika or dot is impressed. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Mallika Sarabhai, Yamini Krishnamurthy
were famed Bharatanatyam dancers.

2. KATHAK: A dance of Uttar Pradesh, northern India, Kathak is often a dance of love. It was originated
by Kathakas, professional storytellers who used a mixture of dance, song, and drama. These storytellers
used to perform in village squares and temple courtyards, mostly specialized in recounting mythological
and moral tales from the scriptures.It is performed by both men and women. The movements include
intricate footwork accented by bells worn around the ankles and stylized gestures adapted from normal
body language. Like other Indian dances it began as a temple dance, but soon moved into the courts of
ruling houses. A Kathak artist generally wraps the sari around the waist and it hangs down from the left. A
blouse called a choli covers the upper body. The artist may wear a scarf (called Orhni in some places). Hair,
face, ear, neck, hand, wrist and ankle jewellery, typically of gold, may adorn the artist. A tika or bindi in
the middle of the forehead is common. The most common instruments that complement a Kathak
performance are the Tabla which falls in sync with the rhythmic footwork of the performer, the Harmonium
or the Sarangi with Manjira, which measures the tala or the cycle. Polular Kathak dancers are Birju Maharaj,
Durga Laal, Gopi Krishna.
3. KATHAKALI

Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated in the area of southwestern India now
known as the state of Kerala. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in
performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana
and the Mahabharata. Kathakali encompasses seven fundamental costume codes. The code follows the
characters of the acts as gods, goddesses, saints, animals, demons, and demonesses, etc. ‘Pacca’(green)-
This character with bright coral red coloured lips depicts gods, sages and noble characters. Vella
Thadi(white beard)- Represents a divine or virtuous character. ‘Tati’ (red)- Represent evil characters like
Ravana. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code with faces made to
look like painted masks and enormous headdresses. The ornaments and jewelleries consist of necklace,
bracelets, bangles, gilt breast-plates and bunches of small bells strung round the ankles. Each Character has
different make up according to their nature. Dancers use complex and intricate schemes of rhythm and foot
movementsGlimpses of Carnatic ragas can be observed in Kathakali music. The Kathakali dance
performance includes varieties of instruments like drum and cymbals. Kalamandalam Gopi, Ms. Milena
Salvini are famous exponents of Kathakali.

4. KUCHIPUDI
Kuchipudi is one of the well-known Classical Indian Dance form from Andhra Pradesh, India. The name
Kuchipudi has origin from the name of a village “KUCHELAPURAM” with resident Brahmins practicing
this traditional dance form at Andhra Pradesh. This dance form is highly ritualized, with a formalized
song-and-dance introduction, sprinkling of holy water, and burning of incense, along with invocations of
goddesses. Traditionally the dance was performed by men, even the female roles, although now it is
predominantly performed by women.

The main themes of the Kuchipudi dance include stories, tales, and scenes from mythology and epics.
Kuchipudi is known for its impressive, quick footwork, dramatic characterization, expressive eye
movements and spirited narrative. · This dance is a combination of Tandava (the majestic, masculine) and
and Lasya (lyrical graceful and feminine energy). A distinctive feature of this dance is the execution on a
brass plate and moving the plate to the accompaniment of Carnatic music. Unlike the other styles mentioned,
kuchipudi requires talent in both dancing and singing. A Kuchipudi dance costume is a blouse with the Silk
Saree. The Kuchipudi dancers wear light make-up and ornaments like head ornament, arm band and
necklace. Make-up includes items like Altha, sindur, kumkum, bindi.
Mridangam, cymbals, veena, fluteand the tambura. Indrani Bajpai, and Yamini Krishnamurti were the chief
exponents of this dance.

5. MANIPURI

Manipuri is one of the most beautiful dance styles of India. Nurtured in the mountainous region of the
northeast, it takes its name from the name of the place Manipur. Manipur literally means a jewel of a land,
and the state is set like a gem in the verdant hills. It has its roots in that state’s folk traditions and rituals,
and often depicts scenes from the life of the god Krishna. Unlike some of the other, more rhythmic dances,
Manipuri is characterized by smooth and graceful movements. Female roles are especially fluid in the arms
and hands, while male roles tend to have more forceful movements. Female artists adorn a barrel-shaped
drum-like long stiff skirt with decorative embellishments. Along with this, they wear a dark-coloured velvet
blouse and a veil over the face. Male dancers wear dhoti, kurta, white turban, a folded shawl over the left
shoulder and the drum strap over the right shoulder. The character of Lord Krishna is always in a yellow
dhoti along with a dark velvet jacket and a crown of peacock feathers. As for makeup, pink color is used as
a base. A dark kohl pencil is used for outlining the eyes and mascara is applied to make the eyes attractive.
To add the finishing touch, red color lipstick and red bindi is applied. The dance may be accompanied by
narrative chanting and choral singing. Chief instruments used are the drum and the flute. Famous Manipuri
dancers are Darshana Jhaveri and Nirmala Mehta.

6. MOHINIATTYAM

The dance form of Mohiniattyam was nurtured in the region of Kerala in southwestern India.
Bharatnatyam's grace and elegance are combined with Kathakali's vigour in Mohiniyattam. This dance form
lacks thumping footsteps and the footwork is soft. It depicts the story of Vishnu's feminine dance.
Mohiniyattam's costume is particularly important, with white and off-white being the predominant colors
and gold brocade motifs. There is no extensive make-up on her face. On her ankles, the dancer wears a
leather strap with bells (Ghungroo). Mohiniyattam comprises about 40 different basic movements called
adavukal. Mohiniattyam is characterized by swaying of hips and the gentle movements with straight body
posture from side-to-side. The eyes play an important role in the direction of the movement. The Carnatic
style of music is used to accompany this dancing form. Manipravalam (a macaronic language based on
Sanskrit and Tamil/Malayalam) is used for the lyrics. Flute, veena, and percussion instruments such as
Mridangam, Maddalam, Idakka, and Kuzhitalam are employed. Sunanda Nair and Radha Dutta are Notable
Mohiniyattam Dancers in India
Indian Classical Music:

Indian music history can be divided into three major periods: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. The
period of Ancient music ranges from the Vedic Age to the period of Sangita Ratnakara.

‘Naad’ is the basis of all creations. Samaveda has 7 notes and its upaveda is Gandharva Veda. The main
pillars of music are Swara, Raga, and Taala.
Swara: Pitch or tone, musical notes. Out of 22 notes, 12 mains are called Swarasthana, and the rest are
played in Ragas.
Raga: Basis of melody. Every raga has atleast 5 swaras. A Combination of swaras leads to a composition
that generates a melody.
Taala: Basis of rhythm. It is a grouping of beats.
Around the 14th century, Indian music was divided into two branches: Hindustani and Carnatic. Both of
these branches evolved and firmly established themselves. Countless musicologists and composers
appeared on the scene during this time period, enriching the concepts of Raga, Tala, and musical forms.

Hindustani Music

While the historical roots of both the music types belong to the Bharata’s Natyasastra, they diverged in the
14th century. The Hindustani branch of music focuses more on the musical structure and the possibilities
of improvisation in it. The Hindustani branch adopted a scale of Shudha Swara Saptaka or the ‘Octave of
Natural notes’. The Hindustani music has elements of ancient Hindu tradition, Vedic philosophy and Persian
tradition as well. It has been influenced by various elements such as Arab, Persian and Afghan elements
which have added a new dimension to Hindustani music.

In ancient times, it has been passed from one to another through the Guru-Shishya Parampara. Musical
instruments used in Hindustani are Tabla, Sarangi, Sitar, Santoor, Flute and violin. It is based on the Raga
system. The Raga is a melodic scale comprising of basic seven notes. Hindustani Music is vocal-centric.
The major vocal forms associated with Hindustani classical music are the khayal, Ghazal, dhrupad,
dhammar, Tarana and thumri. Most of the Hindustani musicians trace their descent to Tansen. There are ten
main styles of singing in Hindustani music like the Dhrupad, Khayal, Tappa, Chaturanga, Tarana, Sargam,
Thumri and Ragasagar, Hori and Dhamar. Some of the known singers of Hindustani music are Bhimsen
Joshi, Bade Gulam Ali Khan, Naina Devi, Pandit Jasraj, Shubha Mudgal etc.

Carnatic Music
Carnatic music owes its name to the Sanskrit term Karnâtaka Sangîtam which denotes “traditional” music.
Composed of a system of Ragam (Raga) and Thalam (Tala), it has a rich history and tradition. Carnatic
Sangeet has developed in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
These states are known for their strong presentation of Dravidian culture. It Originated during the Bhakti
movement and derived from the trinity. It is purely indigenous and normally isolated from alien influences.
Forms of Carnatic music are Alapana, Niraval, Kalphaswaram. Musical instruments used in CArnatic music
are Veena, Mridangam. Some of the known singers of Carnatic music are M. S. Subbulakshmi, M.
Balamuralikrishna, Trichur V. Ramachandran, Aruna Sairam
Similarities between Hindustani and Carnatic Music:

1. The basic elements of swara, raga, taala as the foundation of both.

2. Both the music evolved with Sanskrit language scripts in itself and through Vedic tradition.

3. Both these forms of music have their origin in spirituality and religion.

4. The central notion is similar; a Raga

5. Both these styles give principal prominence to the melody.

6. Both has one leading swara or Vadi swar in every Raga

7. To describe the Janya Raga, both of these music branches use the Sampoorna scale.

8. Both are monophonic and use Taanpura (or Drone) as their main Shruthi.

Differences Between Hindustani and Carnatic Music:

S. N. Hindustani Music Carnatic Music
1 Hindustani music originated in North India. Carnatic music originated in South India
2 Ragas are divided into thaat. Ragas are divided into Melakarta.
The time of singing each raga is strictly No time theory is followed and any raga can
3 observed and ragas are sung only according be sung at any time.
to their time.
4 Various gharanas in the system of music. No classification of gharanas.
5 Equally divided between vocal and It is more inclined towards vocal music
instrumental music. but instrumental music is also practiced.
6 Improvisation is given more importance. Compositions are given more importance.
7 Slow tempo with long notes. The notes Fast tempo. The tempo remains constant with
increase with increasing intensity. short notes.
8 It synthesizes with Vedic, Islamic and Persian It is comparatively untouched and developed
traditions. on the original lines.
9 The major vocal forms of Hindustani music Carnatic music has several varieties of
are Dhrupad, Khayal, Tarana, Thumri, Dadra improvisation such as Alapana, Niraval,
and Gazals. Kalpnaswaram and Ragam Thana Pallavi.
10 Hindustani music has various gharanas like Carnatic music does not have such gharanas.
Lucknow, Jaipur, Kirana, Agra etc.
11 Hindustani classical music uses Pakhawaj Carnatic music uses Mridangam or Pakhawaj
and Tabla as traditional instruments. to maintain the rhythm and tempo throughout
the rendition.
12 Hindustani music has 12 taals. In Carnatic music, there are 7 core taals.
13 The musical compositions for Hindustan Carnatic music is primarily written in Sanskrit
classical music are written in Sanskrit, Hindi, and local languages - Kannada, Malayalam,
and Braj bhasha along with regional Telegu, and Tamil.
languages - Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Bengali,
Marwadi, and Punjabi.