INDIAN ART

Indian art is also an art of social, political and religious influences. It changed and evolved with the evolution of a civilization which
was full of remarkable innovations in all areas of artistic expression. The cultural policy of the Government of India has three major
objectives - preserving the cultural heritage of India, inculcating Indian art consciousness amongst Indians and promoting high
standards in creative and performing arts.

Western scholars have often had difficulty understanding the complex cultural and philosophical systems that gave birth to Indian art
tradition. The story of Indian art is also the story of the oldest and the most resilient culture on earth. It is seen as an amalgamation of
indigenous and outside influences, yet having a unique character and distinctiveness of its own.

Indian art features spirals and curvaceous lines, vines and tendrils, round-figured goddesses, circular amulets, colored gemstones,
arches and domes, haloed deities, crescent moons, and the globe of the sun. Indian sculptures and paintings depict the diversity, colour
and spontaneity of this country and are representations of the all-encompassing nature of Indian culture.

The story of Indian art is also the story of the oldest and the most resilient culture on earth. It is seen as an amalgamation of
indigenous and outside influences, yet having a unique character and distinctiveness of its own. Art is also an art of social, political
and religious influences. It changed and evolved with the evolution of a civilization which was full of remarkable innovations in all
areas of artistic expression. Indian art features spirals and curvaceous lines, vines and tendrils, round-figured goddesses, circular
amulets, colored gemstones, arches and domes, haloed deities, crescentmoons, and the globe of the sun. Indian sculptures and
paintings depict the diversity, colour and spontaneity of this country and are representations of the all-encompassing nature of Indian
culture.

The most endearing aspects of Indian art and architecture prior to colonization has been the strong impact of folk idioms and folk art
on courtly art. Although folk art received little encouragement during the period of colonization, independence brought forward a
renewed interest in folk paintings.

The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history, religions and philosophies which place art production and
patronage in social and cultural contexts.

Indian art can be classified into specific periods each reflecting particular religious, political and cultural developments.

The Indian period is unique in its art, literature and architecture. Indian art is constantly challenged as it rises to the peak of achieving
the ideals of one philosophy in a visual form, then begins anew for another. This challenge and revolution in thought ovides, Indian
artists with reasons for innovation and creation, and the process of visualizing abstract ideas and the culture of the land.

Each religion and philosophical system provided its own nuances, vast metaphors and similes, rich associations, wild imaginations,
humanization of gods and celestial beings, characterization of people, the single purpose and ideal of life to be interpreted in art.

INDIAN PAINTINGS

Indian paintings traditions go back to antiquity, as is evident from the murals of Ajanta, Ellora and other frescoes, the Buddhist palm
leaf manuscripts, the Jain texts and the Deccan, Mughal and Kangra schools of miniature Indian painting.

Indian Painting is an old tradition, with ancient texts outlining theories of color and and anecdotal accounts suggesting that it was
common for households to paint their doorways or indoor rooms where guests resided.

Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh and Sittanvasal and temple paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Indian paintings provide an
aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. This form of art in India is vivid and lively, refined and
sophisticated and bold and vigorous at the same time.

From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian paintings have evolved over the years to become a fusion of
various traditions which influenced them.

At first glance, an Indian miniature painting, to the uninitiated, appears nothing more than a clutter and tangle of pastoral settings,
dominated by masculine and feminine figures. Yet these scenes are not detached visions of artistic expression but provide the basis of
Indian music and art forms. Most of these masterly works are visual creations of emotional and perceptive concepts that depict the
ragas or musical modes of Indian classical music.

Miniature painters employed at various medieval courts, discovered the potential of limitless self-expression in their depiction and
today there are 130 known sets of such miniatures.The Indian paintings have now acquired a stature of their own. They use materials
and techniques from all over the world but express Indian realities and Indian experiences.
The respect for tradition and the ability to transcend it at the same time is clearly evident in Indian art of today. This is the essence of
what has been described as the eclecticism of the Indian contemporary expression.

Starting with the Bengal school, many contemporary painters have been influenced by modern styles.

Indian fresco

The Chola fresco paintings were discovered in 1931 within the circumambulatory passage of the Brihadisvara Temple in India and are
the first Chola specimens discovered.

Researchers have discovered the technique used in these frescos. A smooth batter of limestone mixture is applied over the stones,
which took two to three days to set. Within that short span, such large paintings were painted with natural organic pigments.

During the Nayak period the chola paintings were painted over. The Chola frescos lying underneath have an ardent spirit of saivism is
expressed in them. They probably synchronised with the completion of the temple by Rajaraja Cholan the Great.

Kerala has well preserved fresco or mural or wall painting in temple walls in Pundarikapuram, Ettumanoor, Aymanam and
Trivandrum.

INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

Religious motifs inspired most of the trends in Indian architecture and sculpture. Temples, mosques, forts, palaces and other
monuments testify to this. Contemporary architecture combines ancient and modern influences.

Chandigarh, designed by Corbusier, stands out as a planned modern city. The oldest evidence of Indian buildings date back to fourth
century BC. The common examples of Buddhist - Indian architecture are the famous stupas. They are said to have originated from
prehistoric burial mounds, but soon became much more. They were covered with an umbrella - shaped stone canopy, and marked as
important places.

The most famous ancient building in India is the Taj Mahal. It was built by Shah Jahan as the tomb for his wife.

Recently there has been a shift towards using a method of ancient architecture called Vaastusashtra. Vaastusashtra is based on the
effects of the five natural elements: sun, water, earth, sky, and air in relation to man. Indian architects use this science since flats
constructed using this science are more in demand by buyers.

Stories and legends are told about the great monuments in India. India has a vast culture, interesting facts and the revelations are
marvelous. As one looks at the beauty of Taj Mahal, we can just see the love Emperor Shah Jahan had for his wife. The work of Ustad
Isa Khan, the architect who designed this piece is exquisite. This is surely one of the best heritage sites in India.
Down south is the Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple which bears the Shiv linga which was worshipped by Lord Indra to absolve him
from sin. The Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple is a granite form and has twelve gopuras. Gopuras are the traditional architectural
towers in the south of India. There are several shrines with the primary two shrines of the main Shiva and Parvathy.

The Nagara architecture is well seen in the Khajuraho temples. The works are in rough granite and depict a lot of tradition. This
represent the pictures of Gods and Goddesses. The beauty of apsaras and deities is well seen in the carvings. The interior is well
designed to allow air and light and this is certainly a tourists must-visit place.

The churches in Goa are spell bounding with their masterpiece works. The façade, interiors, dome shaped ceiling, painted windows are
a treat to ones eyes. The Portuguese churches are again typical in their setting. St Francis of Asisi, Chapel of St. Cahterine, Church of
lady of Rosary and Basilica of Bom Jesus are some of the masterpieces. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are set in Aurangabad which are
thirty in number. Most heritage sites are a result of accidental discovery and this too was found by a group of British people who were
on a hunting expedition. There is a prayer hall, monastery which strongly suggest Buddhist culture in the Ajanta caves. The Ellora
again shows the traces of Jain, Buddhist and Brahman religions.

The Agra fort over the banks of Yamuna is another great place. The red stone colour is unique with the grandeur effect of architecture.
Fatehpur Sikri was at its peak during the administration of Akbar. The tomb of Saint Sheik S Chisti, Jama Masjid, Bulund Darwaza are
some of the monuments that are famous hers. The Konark temple, Hampi, Qutab Minar are other famous monuments in India.

INDIAN FILMS

Indian films command a huge domestic market and are popular abroad, particularly in Asia, Africa and West Asia.
India leads the world in the output of films, with more than 800 Indian films produced annually.
The major production of Indian movie centres are Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Apart from popular entertainment through
commercial cinema, art cinema deals with a serious themes particularly relevant to Indian society. There has been widespread
recognition of Indian artists and directors at film festivals in different parts of the world.

Movies arrived in India less than a year after the Lumieres first exhibited their cinematographie in Paris. On July 7, 1896, an agent
who had brought equipment and films from France first showed his moving pictures in Bombay. That was an important day in the
social and cultural history of the Indian people.

The first Indian-made feature film (3700 feet long) was released in 1913. It was made by Dadasaheb Phalke and was called Raja
Harishchandra. Based on a story from the Mahabharata it was a stirring film concerned with honour, sacrifice and mighty deeds. From
then on many "mythologicals" were made and took India by storm. Phalke's company alone produced about a hundred films.

The First International Film Festival, held in Bombay in 1951, showed Italian works for the first time in India. The influence of
Neorealism can be seen in films such as Do Bigha Zamin/Two Measures of Land (Bimal Roy, 1953), a portrait of father and son eking
out a living in Calcutta that strongly echoes the narrative of Vittorio de Sica's Bicycle Thief (1948). Mehboob Khan's Andaz/Style
(1949), an upperclass love triangle founded on a tragic misunderstanding, draws on codes of psychological representation -
hallucinations and dreams that feature strongly in 1940s Hollywood melodrama. Mehboob's tendency to make a visual spectacle of his
material, and his involvement with populist themes and issues make him a good example of popular cinema of the time.

The late Satyajit Ray was awarded many prestigious international awards including the Oscar in 1992 for Lifetime Achievement in
Cinema. Documentary and short film makers have also played an important role in spreading knowledge and awareness among
sections which are yet to get the benefits of modern education. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, imparts training in film
making and televisions programme production.

Hindi Movies made by the students of this Institute have won many national and international awards in festivals in India and abroad

Bollywood Music and bollywood movies

Bollywood music : The background score or music plays a huge role in bollywood movies. The music is the soul of the movie. The
music is what gets people to the theatres. It really does wonders for the movie. The starcast and movie also count but the music of a
movie is what actually makes a difference. Bollywood has produced legends like R.D.Burman and Lata Mangeshkar.

The melodies of R.D.Burman are still famous and are still heard and hummed by everyone. First the music is composed before the
making of the actual movie. There are songs also of different kinds, love songs, qawalis, gazals, sad songs. All kinds of songs, which
are hummed by almost everyone. The actors, dancers and location make the songs come alive. So everything goes together, the music
and the story which ultimately makes “the film.”

A Bollywood movie is almost incomplete without a song. Before in olden days there used to be atleast fourteen-fifteen songs, but
nowadays there are usually six-seven songs. The music of a movie makes people hum along and dance to its tunes. The new trend set
in Bollywood movies are the 'dance numbers' which are an added attraction for the audiences. The background score of movies
improves on the quality and speakers louder for the movie. The movie usually carries the story ahead and merges with the story. In
other words music and movies are two sides of the same coin. They go together hand in hand and are incomplete without each other.

Bollywood Movies & Indian lifestyle. Everyone has a similar, boring routine to follow. Going to the cinema hall to catch a good
movie adds a little spice to our otherwise monotonous lives. Bollywood movies or hindi movies have become an essential part of
Indian families. Watching one of these movies is like watching a fantasy. Bollywood films been evolving from time to time. There has
been a trend of love triangles lately. Bollywood movies range from emotional sagas to patriotic legends, romantic comedies to heart
stopping thrillers, movies for children to bold documentaries. There is something for all kinds of audiences. There is entertainment
packed for everyone. Hindi being the national language also has a national audience. Majority of India is rural so majority of the
audience is also rural. Usually directors go for something, which will be accepted by audiences of all kinds but recently many
directors have been experimenting and making movies on bold subjects. Sometimes movies are made to bring about awareness among
the people.

These movies very beautifully express the cultures and ideas of Indians. These movies show how much importance Indians give to
love, emotions and feelings. There are so many people who get together , for months, and work from morning to evening everyday
and then when the product ( movie ) is ready, it is all worth it!

It is not only the actor or actress or bad guy (who always gets beaten up) who make up the movie, there are technicians, dancers,
editors, make-up artists, spotboys, many people who work very hard to give us few hours of entertainment
INDIAN DANCES

Indian Dances illuminate & express India's culture in a direct manner, playing on the sensibilities of the onlooker.

India offers a number of classical dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. Each form represents the
culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people
There are many types of dance in India, from those which are deeply religious in content to those which are danced on more trivial
happy occasions.

Classical Indian Dances are usually always spiritual in content, although this is often true also of Folk dances.. The most popular
classical styles seen on the Indian dance stage are Bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam of Kerala, Odissi of
Orissa, Kathak of Uttar Pradesh, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh and Manipuri of Manipur

Indian mythology, legends and classical literature provide the themes of the Indian dance, both of the classical and folk variety. The
classical dance is based on rigid rules and dance discipline. Its forms include Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Oddissi and Kathak as also a
tradition of dance-dramas - Kathakali, Kutiyattam, Mohiniattam, etc.

Indian dance is divided into nritta - the rhythmic elements, nritya - the combination of rhythm with expression and natya - the
dramatic element.

Nritya is usually expressed through the eyes, hands and facial movements. Nritya combined with nritta makes up the usual dance
programmes.

INDIAN CUISINE

Indian cuisine is one of the most famous world cuisine's. A number of religions, with their own traditions and customs, co-exist in
India. The food habits differ across regions, religions. Diverse cultures that have played a pivotal role in the development of the Indian
cuisine

Indian cuisine revolves around the appropriate use of aromatic spices. But styles of cooking and commonly used ingredients differ not
only from region to region, but from one household to another.

Besides spices, the other main ingredients of Indian cooking and Indian meals are milk products like ghee (used as a cooking medium)
and curd or dahi.

Indian Tandoori and curry cooking is famous. India produces some of the finest teas and coffees of the world.The popular dishes from
Kerala are appams (a rice pancake) and thick stews. Desserts from the south include the Mysore pak and the creamy payasum.

INDIAN DRAMA

Indian drama and theatre is perhaps as old as its music and dance. Classical theatre traditions have also influenced modern theatre,
particularly the Hindi, Marathi and Bengali theatres.

The tradition of folk theatre is alive in nearly all the linguistic regions of the country. In addition, there is a rich tradition of puppet
theatre in rural India.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi located in Delhi has performed the role of sponsoring, research, dissemination, appreciation and
patronage of the performing arts. It gives awards to outstanding performers and provides assistance for theatre production and
teaching and offers scholarships to students and exchange of troupes.

The National School of Drama also located in Delhi teaches stage direction, acting and related subjects. It also has a Repertory
Company of its own.

INDIAN LITERATURE

Indian literature -From the ancient Vedas and Upnishads, the Ramayan and Mahabharata, India has produced great works of literature,
philosophy and religion.

The tradition has continued in contemporary India. Nearly every major Indian language has a rich tradition of Indian literature.

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize for his Work 'Geetanjali' in 1913.
Prominent modern writers in Indian languages include Premchand, Ageyeya in Hindi; Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Sunil
Gangopadhyay in Bengali; Amrita Pritam in Punjabi; Kaifi Azami, Ali Sardar Jafri, Firaq Gorakhpuri & Josh Malihabadi in Urdu;
Shiv Shankar Pillai in Malayalam; Subramaniyam Bharati in Tamil; Gobind Triumbak Deshpande in Marathi; and Tara Shankar Joshi
in Gujarati.

Many Indians writing in English have also gained international acclaim, for example Raja Rao, Kamala Markandaya, Nirad
Choudhury, R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Anita Desi, Manohar Malgonkar, Amitabh Ghosh, Vikram Seth and Arundhati Roy.

FOLK AND TRIBAL ART

Folk and tribal art in India takes on different manifestations through varied medium such as pottery, painting, metalwork, paper-art,
weaving and designing of artefacts such as jewellery and toys.

Often puranic gods and legends are transformed into contemporary forms and familiar images. Fairs, festivals, and local deities play a
vital role in these arts.

It is an art where life and creativity are inseparable. The tribal arts have a unique sensitivity, as the tribal people possess an intense
awareness very different from the settled and urbanized people. Their minds are supple and intense with myth, legends, snippets from
epic, multitudinous gods born out of dream and fantasy. Their art is an expression of their life and holds their passion and mystery.

Folk art also includes the visual expressions of the wandering nomads. This is the art of people who are exposed to changing
landscapes as they travel over the valleys and highlands of India. They carry with them the experiences and memories of different
spaces and their art consists of the transient and dynamic pattern of life. The rural, tribal and arts of the nomads constitute the matrix
of folk expression.

INDIAN MUSIC

The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music. India's classical music tradition, including
Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, it remains fundamental to the lives
of Indians today as sources of religious inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. India is made up of several dozen
ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects, having very distinct cultural traditions.

The two main traditions of classical music which have been Carnatic music, found predominantly in the peninsular regions and
Hindustani music, found in the northern and central parts. While both traditions claim Vedic origin, history indicates that the two
traditions diverged from a common musical root since c. 13th century.

Folk music

The Bauls of Bengal were a mystical order of musicians in 18th, 19th and early 20th century India who played a form of music using a
khamak, ektara and dotara. The word Baul comes from Sanskrit batul meaning divinely inspired insanity. They are a group of mystic
minstrels. They are thought to have been influenced greatly by the Hindu tantric sect of the Kartabhajas as well as by Sufi sects. Bauls
travel in search of the internal ideal, Maner Manush (Man of the Heart).

Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region. As many Bhangra lyrics reflect the long and often
tumultuous history of the Punjab, knowledge of Punjabi history offers important insights into the meaning of the music. While
Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New
Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional
form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae, and in such forms it has become a pop sensation in the United
Kingdom and North America.

Bhavageete (literally 'devotional song') is a form of expressionist poetry and light music. Some notable Bhavageete performers include
P. Kalinga Rao, Mysore Ananthaswamy, C. Aswath, Shimoga Subbanna, Archana Udupa, and Raju Ananthaswamy.

Dandiya is a form of dance-oriented folk music that has also been adapted for pop music. The present musical style is derived from the
traditional musical accompaniment to the folk dance.

Lavani comes from the word Lavanya which means beauty. This is one of the most popular forms of dance and music that is practiced
all over Maharashtra. It has in fact become a necessary part of the Maharashtrian folk dance performances. Traditionally, the songs are
sung by female artistes, but male artistes may occasionally sing Lavanis. The dance format associated with Lavani is known as
Tamasha. Lavani is a combination of traditional song and dance, which particulary performed to the enchanting beats of 'Dholak', an
drum like instrument. Dance performed by attractive women wearing nine-yard saris. They are sung in a quick tempo. The verve, the
enthusiasm, the rhythm and above all the very beat of India finds an expressive declaration amidst the folk music of India, which has
somewhat, redefined the term "bliss". Lavani originated in the arid region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The biggest form of Indian popular music is filmi, or songs from Indian musical films. The film industry of India supported music by
according reverence to classical music while utilizing the western orchestration to support Indian melodies. Music composers like
Naushad, Vasant Desai, Shankar Jaikishan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Chowdhary and S.D. Burman employed the principles of harmony
while retaining classical and folk flavor. Reputed names in the domain of Indian classical music like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat
Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pt. Ramnarayan have also composed music for films. Independent pop acts such as Asha Bhosle,
Alisha Chinai, Shaan, Madhushree, Shreya Ghoshal, Nihira Joshi, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Kunal
Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alka Yagnik and rock bands like Indus Creed, Indian Ocean (band), and Euphoria exist and have gained
mass appeal with the advent of cable music television.

Qawwali is a Sufi form of devotional music based on the principles of classical music. It is performed with one or two lead singers,
several chorus singers, harmonium, tabla, and dholak.

Rabindranath Tagore was a towering figure in Indian music. Writing in Bengali, he created a library of over 2,000 songs now known
by Bengalis as 'rabindra sangeet' whose form is primarily influenced by Hindustani classical, sub-classicals, Karnatic, western, bauls,
bhatiyali and different folk songs of India. Many singers in West Bengal, and Bangladesh base their entire careers on the singing of
Tagore musical masterpieces. The national anthem of India and national song of Bangladesh are Rabindra Sangeets.

Rajasthan has a very diverse cultural collection of musician castes, including Langas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi and Manganiyar. Rajasthan
Diary quotes it as a soulful, full-throated music with Harmonious diversity. The haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a variety
of delightfully primitive looking instruments. The stringed variety include the Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha, Morsing and
Ektara. Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny Damrus. The Daf and Chang
are a big favourite of Holi (the festival of colours) revellers. Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavours such as Shehnai, Poongi,
Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia.

The essence of Rajasthani music is derived from the creative symphony of string instruments, percussion instruments and wind
instruments accompanied by melodious renditions of folk singers. It enjoys a respectable presence in Bollywood music as well.