Carnatic Music

Carnatic Music is the style of Indian Classical Music prevalent in the southern states of India, namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Carnatic music is believed to have a divine origin. It originated from the Devas and Devis and is venerated as symbolic of Nad Brahman. 

Owing to Persian and Islamic influences in North India from the 12th century onwards, Hindustani music and Carnatic music styles diverged. By the 16th and 17th centuries, there was a clear demarcation between Carnatic and Hindustani music. It was at this time that Carnatic music flourished in Tanjavur, while the Vijaynagar Empire reached its greatest extent. Purandara Dasa, who is known as the father (Pitamaha) of Carnatic Music, formulated the system that is commonly used for the teaching of Carnatic music.Venkatamakhin invented and authored the formula for the melakarta system of raga classification in his Sanskrit work, the Chaturdandi Prakasika (1660 AD). Govindacharya is known for expanding the melakarta system into the sampoorna raga scheme - the system that is in common use today.

Carnatic music was mainly patronized by the local kings of Mysore and Travancore in the 18th through 20th centuries. The royalty of the kingdoms of Mysore and Travancore were noted composers and proficient in playing musical instruments, such as the veena, rudra veena, violin, ghatam, flute, mridangam, nagaswara and swarabhat. .

Carnatic Music is also an integral part of the religious life in South India. Well renowned and experienced 

singers generally sing compositions in various ragas dedicated to a god or goddess or of spiritual nature. The performance of the Sanskrit 'sloka', Tamil 'viruttam' and Telegu 'padyamu' or 'sisapadya' are particularly unique.The most common and significant forms in Carnatic music are the varnam and the kriti (or kirtanam).

In contrast to Hindustani Music of the northern part of India, Carnatic music is taught and learned trough compositions, which  encode many intricate musical details, also providing scope for free improvisation. Nearly every rendition of a Carnatic music composition is different and unique as it embodies alements of the composer's vision, as well as the musicians' interpretation.

A Carnatic composition really has two elements, one being the musical element and the other being what is conveyed in the composition. It is probably because of this fact that most Carnatic music compositions are composed for singing. 


Some of the most prominent composers of Carnatic Music are Purandara Dasa (1480 - 1564), Tyagaraja (1759 - 1847), Muthuswani Dikshitar (1176-1827) and Syama Sastri (1762 - 1827).

The Trinity of Carnatic Music

From left - Muthuswamy Dikshitar, Tyagaraja and Syama Satri

Some of the most famous Carnatic Classical singers and instrumentalists are M.S. Subbulakshmi, D.K. Pattamal, M.L. Vasanthakumari, Aruna Sairam, Sudha Ragunathan, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, K.J. Yesudas, Jayshri Ramnath, Ranjani and Gayathri, Lalgudi G. Jayaram, Kavalam Srikumar among others.

The legendary trio of Carnatic Music

From left - M.L. Vasanthkumari, M.S. Subbulakshmi and D.K. Pattamal

Indian Classical Music

Indian Classical Music has been around for over 3000 years. It has its origins in the Vedic times, in about 1000 BC. The Sam Veda talks about Classical Music at great length. This style of singing has evolved over the centuries. It incorporates inputs from the ancient chant system of the vedic times, the equally ancient Persian tradition of Mausiqi-e-Assil and the folk and native traditional music prevalent in the respective regions.

Indian Classical Music like Western Classical Music is based on the standard 7 notes

Sa    Re    Ga    Ma    Pa    Dha    Ni 

Indian Classical Music is further classified into to broad categories : 

• Hindustani Music
• Carnatic Music

Indian Classical Music is based on the system of Ragas. A Raga is a combination of 5 or more notes to form a melody. These ragas generally evoke a mood or emotion, and are hence given a certain time of the day or season to categorize them. For example, Raga Yaman is sung in the early evening, just as the lamps are lit, for its pleasant and joyous mood. 

In Hindustani Classical Music, the ragas are categorised into 10 thaats by Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. These thaats are : 

• Bhairav
• Bhairavi
• Bilawal
• Aasavari
• Todi
• Marwa
• Purvi
• Kalyan
• Kafi
• Khamaj

On the other hand, in Carnatic Music, the ragams, as they are called there, are classifies more systematically in the malakarta system, where the ragas are classified under 72 parent (melakarta) ragas.

Here are a few examples to differentiate the singing styles of Hindustani Music and Carnatic Music.

This is Raga Charukeshi. Primarily a Carnatic Raga, it has been adopted into the Hindustani Music and is sung quite widely too.

Here are 2 renditions of this raga, one by the legendary Carnatic singer, Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, and the other one by Ustad Rashid Khan.