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Comparative Table: Hindustani vs Carnatic Music

Feature Hindustani Carnatic
Region North India South India
Key influence Persian/Mughal court culture Sanskritic/Dravidian devotional tradition
Dominant vocal form Khayal Kriti
Organising principle Gharana (lineage/school) Composer-centred (Trinity's compositions)
Improvisation Greater emphasis on extended improvisation (alap, taan) More composition-bound, though improvisation (manodharma) also present
Iconic instrument Sitar, Sarod, Tabla Veena, Mridangam, Nadaswaram
Notable pioneer/globaliser Ravi Shankar (sitar) M.S. Subbulakshmi (vocal)

Instruments of Indian Classical Music

Instrument Type Associated Tradition
Sitar Plucked string Hindustani
Sarod Plucked string Hindustani
Veena Plucked string Carnatic
Santoor Struck string (hammered) Hindustani (Kashmiri origin)
Sarangi Bowed string Hindustani
Violin Bowed string Carnatic (adapted)
Tabla Percussion (pair of drums) Hindustani
Mridangam Percussion Carnatic
Pakhawaj Percussion Hindustani/Dhrupad
Tanpura Drone string instrument Both
Shehnai Wind (reed) Hindustani, auspicious occasions
Nadaswaram Wind (reed) Carnatic, temple/wedding music
Bansuri Wind (flute) Hindustani
Ghatam Percussion (clay pot) Carnatic
Kanjira Percussion (frame drum) Carnatic

Bharat Ratna Recipients from the Music World

Recipient Field Year
M.S. Subbulakshmi Carnatic vocal 1998
Pandit Ravi Shankar Sitar (Hindustani) 1999
Ustad Bismillah Khan Shehnai (Hindustani) 2001
Bhimsen Joshi Hindustani vocal 2008
Lata Mangeshkar Playback singing 2001

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