From Melodies to Soundtracks: The Evolution of Music in Indian Cinema
Indian culture has always included music as an essential component, and this has been the case for thousands of years. The Vedas, ancient Hindu scriptures, are the starting point for India’s famed classical music tradition. The practice has been passed down through the ages for hundreds of years. It has played a significant role in the evolution of Indian music and culture.
When Indian cinema initially appeared in the early 20th century, traditional Indian music played a pivotal role in shaping the industry. Silent films originated in India, and at early showing, viewers were treated to live performances of Indian music. This music was often performed by smaller ensembles, and traditional Indian instruments like the sitar, tabla, and sarangi were commonly featured.
As the Indian film industry developed and new technologies became available, the role of music in the industry began to expand. After the development of sound recording technology in the late 1920s, music rapidly became an integral part of the Indian film industry. The seven songs of the first Indian talkie, “Alam Ara” (1931), were all sung by the actors in the film. After this film’s success, Indian filmmakers were more open to using musical scores, and soon, music was seen as an essential part of Indian motion pictures. At the time, there were many cinemas across the country, and each had its own distinct sound.
The “Golden Age” of Indian cinema, marked by evocative music and lyrics, began in the decade spanning the 1950s and 1960s. Playback singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Mohammed Rafi became household names in India and worldwide after their careers took off at this time. Tamil film music gained its own identity thanks to the work of composers like G. Ramanathan, M.S. Viswanathan, and K.V. Mahadevan. Some of the music for Bengali films at the time was composed by people like Hemanta Mukherjee and Salil Chowdhury. Composers Sudhir Phadke and Vasant Desai were also prominent in the Marathi film industry.
Groups of musicians would often collaborate to create music during this time period, with each ensemble typically including a composer, lyricist, and singer. The songs were often great on their own and could be listened to in isolation from the films they were written for, and they were instrumental in giving Indian cinema its own distinct flavor.
The “masala movie” genre dominated Indian cinema in the ’70s and ’80s, hence the name. These movies were recognized for their over-the-top action sequences, memorable dance numbers, and extensive use of contemporary music. In this era of Bollywood, actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty, who were also accomplished dancers, rose to prominence. Songs during this time period were typically composed in their whole by a single individual; this included both the music and the lyrics. Bappi Lehri and R.D. Burman, two composers from Bengal, also contributed a fresh sound.
There was a shift toward more creative and unorthodox music in Indian films between the 1990s and the 2000s. Filmmakers began experimenting with a wide range of musical genres, including rock, pop, and hip-hop. Music directors like A.R. Rahman gained notoriety at this time, forever altering the sound of the Tamil and Bollywood film industries. Popular music of the time was often characterized by the use of electronic instruments and sound effects. Many composers, including Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Ajay-Atul, Amit Trivedi, Daler Mehndi, and many others, shaped the sound of Bollywood, Marathi, Gujarati, and Punjabi.
In conclusion, Indian film music has undergone and continues to undergo dramatic changes. Indian cinema was profoundly influenced by the music business, which produced everything from traditional love ballads to cutting-edge rap, from slow ghazals to upbeat indie pop. It helped set Indian cinema apart from other film industries worldwide.
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