10 iconic Indian musicians of all times

India is a land enriched with many cultures, traditions, practices and talents. One such talent we are filled with is music and the arts. Indians are rather creative and excel in the fields they venture in. The music industry for example, has had so many vocalists and musicians who have made Indian music famous all around the world. They are charismatic, talented and possess a voice or instrument so melodious that even someone with an aversion to music would get hooked to their beats.
Here we list 10 iconic Indian musicians of all times.

Pt. Ravi Shankar, a sitar virtuoso as he is known wide and far, is renowned for popularizing Indian classical music globally. Pandit Shankar was a disciple of the famous Allauddin Khan and his collaborations with George Harrison of famous band ‘The Beatles’ brought Indian classical music to Western audiences. His mastery over the sitar and his innovative compositions established him as a respected figure in the world of music.

(Image: Markgoff2972/Wikipedia)

Lata Mangeshkar, also dearly called the ‘Nightingale of India’, had a career spanning seven decades in playback singing for Indian cinema. Her soulful voice, singing, versatility and the ability to convey diverse emotions through her voice made her an unparalleled legend in the world of playback singing. Her death brought a wave of sadness around the world and many famous singers paid their tributes to her.

(Image: Lata Mangeshkar/Facebook)

A man like no other, A.R. Rahman is a composer and musician, who completely changed, enhanced and revolutionized Indian film music. His fusion of Indian classical music and tunes with contemporary sounds gave him global recognition and fame. Rahman has also won the Academy Award and 2 Grammy’s, with songs spanning almost every beloved genre. Rahman's compositions reflect innovation, true creativity and cultural richness.

(Image: arrahman/Instagram)

One of the most celebrated musicians of all time, R.D. Burman was a hit name in the Indian music industry. He was dearly called ‘Pancham Da’, and redefined Bollywood music in the 1970s and 1980s. He created timeless melodies that entertain audiences even today and forces them to dance to the mesmerizing tones. He composed music across various genres, infusing each composition with his unique style. His collaborations with legendary lyricists and singers resulted in chart-topping hits.

(Image: R D Burman/Facebook)

A famous name in the music industry, Ustad Zakir Hussain is a tabla maestro who is celebrated for his mastery and innovation. He can be called a solid child-prodigy for he gave his first concert at the small age of 7. His collaborations with artists across genres and cultures is an evidence of his mastery across different streams of music and the ability to brilliantly push the boundaries of traditional tabla playing.

(Image: Krupasindhu Muduli/Wikipedia)

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a famous figure in the genre of Hindustani classical music had a voice that could even convert a man with no interest in music to one who heard devotional songs on loop. He was famous for the Khayal form of singing and the music displayed unparalleled depth and emotion, earning him numerous accolades.

(Image: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi/Facebook)

The son of a wrestler with no prior teaching of music, Hariprasad Chaurasia made quite the name for himself. He is a celebrated classical flutist, and has a mastery in playing the bansuri in Hindustani Classical tradition. Chaurasia's passion for music led him to pursue classical vocal training from a neighbour at the age of 15. His musical journey was looked after by Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, a renowned flutist from Varanasi. He began his career in All India Radio (AIR) in Cuttack, Orissa and then moved to AIR Bombay, where his talent got to the film industry.

(Image: Krupasindhu Muduli/Wikipedia)

Ustad Bismillah Khan was a shehnai maestro, who made the instrument popular outside of the association it had with wedding trumpets and such. Ustad Bismillah Khan gave Shehnai a global stage and was encouraged by the Indian government to perform in international festivals and shows. His performances and contributions to Indian classical music earned him the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.

(Image: Classical Music/Facebook)

T.H. Vinayakram is known as the ‘God of ghatam’, who gained fame for popularising the earthen pot instrument, ghatam. This Grammy-winning musician is an expert in Carnatic music and has earned prestigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Vinayakram's mastery of the ghatam has not only garnered him international recognition but has also established him as an innovative man who brought fame to a rather regional and underrated musical equipment.

(Image: Rishabh Tatiraju/Wikipedia)

A distinguished Santoor maestro, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu and Kashmir in 1938. He got famous for changing the opinion around playing the Santoor and popularizing it in classical music. It wasn't until his teenage years that he was introduced to the Santoor, a lesser-known instrument in Hindustani classical music at the time. He then dedicated himself to mastering the Santoor, aiming to mix it into the genre of classical music.
In 1955, he debuted as a Santoor performer in Bombay, marking a significant milestone in his career.

(Image: @chintanjbuch/X)