When classical music met commercial cinema

In the history of 20th century Hindustani classical music, the name of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan stands tall and unchallenged. In 1960, K Asif wished to convince the maestro to lend his voice for a song in his magnum opus 'Mughal e Azam'. The ustad tried to stay away from films by quoting high prices, but K Asif was willing to go any length. The ustad was finally convinced to sing at a price of Rs25,000 when singers like Mohd.Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar were being paid Rs 500 per song. 

A child prodigy, DV Paluskar was a phenomenon in the world of Hindustani music. In his short span of 20 years, he managed to establish himself as one of the most accomplished singers of the 'alaap' in any raga. In the mega hit of 1954, Baiju Bawra, he combined with another maestro, Ustad Amir Khan, for this wonderful jugalbandi. Listen for yourself! 

The founder of the Indore Gharana, Ustad Amir Khan was a master par comparison. Among his famous students is Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the music director. One of his most famous works in Indian cinema is the opening track for V Shantaram's famous film 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje'. Composed by Vasant Desai in the raga Marwa, this is an example of the ustad's slow building tempo. 

The tale of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's life reads like a film script in itself. Having run away from home to learn music, he spent years travelling in search of a guru, earning money by singing on trains. Eventually, he was trained by the divine Sawai Gandharva and became an accomplished singer himself. In Amol Palekar starrer Ankahee, he sang this wonderful bhajan in the raga Mishra Khamaj. It earned him the National Award. 

Any collection of reputed classical musicians from India will not be complete without the mention of MS Subbulakshmi. The woman who Lata Mangeshkar called 'Tapaswini',  was quite the famous actress in the early years of the talkies. It was her work in films like 'Meera' that established her image as the pure, devout singer. Sung in raga Shivranjani, this 'Chakar raakho ji' bhajan became one of her most famous renditions on screen. 

A disciple of gurus from 7 gharanas of Hindustani classical music, Kishori Amonkar made her playback debut in V Shantaram's Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. Disillusioned, she soon returned to the comfortable domain of classical music, only occasionally venturing to sing for films. One of her more underrated ventures was this song for Govind Nihalani's Drishti.

Born Sakina, daughter of the legendary Ustad Abdul Karim Khan of the Kirana Gharana, she was initiated into the classical stream very early in her life. Her sister, Hirabai Barodekar, was also a famous vocalist. One of her most haunting songs is this wonderful number in Vijay Bhatt's mythological, Ram Rajya.

Of the Mangeshkar sisters, Usha Mangeshkar does not receive as much credit for her vocal talent as she must. A classically trained singer, she matches the abilities of her more famous sisters perfectly. In this beautiful song from the classic, Chitralekha, she embodies the delicate tones of raga Kalawati. 

You didn't think we'd leave her out, did you? The Queen of Melody, Lata Mangeshkar was trained in classical Hindustani by her father the late Dinanath Mangeshkar. The list of her classical renditions in films might make for another list entirely. This one is memorable for her rendition of a rare raga, Charukesi, in the film Dastak. 

The raaga Malhar has acquired a legendary status in India owing to its association with the story of Tansen. Suman Kalyanpur's voice has the same dexterity and vocal wavelength as the great Lata Mangeshkar. Many of her songs are still confused to be that of the Melody Queen. This one is a beautiful composition in the raga Gaud Malhar, from the musical Barsat Ki Ek Raat.

Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar began singing at the age of eight, training under his mother. His talent and skill brought him to the attention of Pandit Jasraj who took him in as his disciple. He acquired national fame with his song 'Suno re bhayila ke' from the film Godmother. It won him the National Award. 

From the student to his teacher. Pandit Jasraj began his singing career in films with V Shantaram's Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne. Since then, he has sung several times in films. One of his earliest compositions is this beautiful classical composition from the film Ladki Sahyadri Ki.