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 abir's poems were not aimed at a specific community or class. His simple language found instant appeal through the masses. His poems started being recited by different
artistes. There were others like Kabir in every region of India. The similarity was
in the strain of passionate singing, which resonates in every kind of singing in India even
today - whether it's a lonely herdsman humming by the riverside, or a classical maestro
giving a stage performance. It is this emphasis on meaningfulness and effort, to bring out just the right emotion, that sets Indian music
apart.
Classical Music
A lifetime isn't enough to master Indian music.
 Even folk music
contains the purity of classical music and has to be studied on the micro-level. It is said that Indian classical music emerged from vedic chanting by early Aryans.
Both Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical music are very rich
and have different schools and families of music within themselves. The music is based on
ragas which are defined for different emotions, moods and times.
Unlike western classical music where the orchestra is important, Indian
classical music lays emphasis on the vocal part with minimal accompanying music.
Also, unlike western classical where the symphony is completely defined, in Indian classical much is left on the discretion of the performer to express emotions in his
own individual style.
Classical Dances
Unlike western classical dances, emphasis is not on the shape of the body but on facial expressions. Emotions are most important. The dancers often perform solo or
duo, but rarely as a group. The emotions are in the form of nine rasas according to
Bharatiya Natyashastra. It takes
years for a dancer to perfect his/her art.
India primarily has four different forms of Classical dances (others include
Kuchipudi, Mohini-attam and
Odissi):
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Kathakali : Often males only. Emphasis on costume and make up. Facial expressions and hand movements
are used powerfully to emote this dance-drama. |
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Bharatnatyam : Temple dance form. Needs high level of synchronization in body movements, facial expressions and accompanying words. |
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Kathak : Lucknow & Jaipur gharanas. Swift dance movements, highly rhythmic steps. Frantic & frenzied.
Emphasizes foot-taps and pirouettes. |
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Manipuri : Females only. Elaborate costumes emoting shringar-rasa. Very slow and delicate.
High degree of emphasis on soft facial expressions, and equally soft hand movements. |
Mobile Theatres
Since ages, mobile theatres have remained a very popular medium of
entertainment, and for spreading , education and awareness between remote villages. They often play
episodes from religious epics.
Ramlila (the dramatic representation of the Ramayana is a part of the
Dussehra celebrations) and Raslila in North India,
and Kathakali in South are the most notable. Others include Nautanki,
Tamasha, Pandvani and Puppet shows.
Cine Blitz
Now, what's a section like
this doing on a page like this?!
Well,
the Indian film industry - the
largest in the world - is a phenomenon in itself. Cine stars are demi-gods,
particularly in the South where there are instances of obsessed fans constructing temples
for their favorite actresses! So awesome is their following, that a number
of film stars have entered politics and some have even become Chief
Ministers of their states!!
A typical Indian movie is a three-hour potpourri of romance, comedy, tragedy, suspense,
action and mythology. The most distinct feature is the song and dance sequence every few minutes
(Music videos have started making an appearance only recently). Rhetoric, melodrama, catchy
numbers, elaborate dances and a they-lived-happily-ever-after story is well appreciated by Indian
audiences.
The scene in the movie theatre is worth checking out. Clapping,
whistling and
dancing with the tunes is commonplace. And, of course, Indians eat more than watch the movie.
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