Music in the 1990s: A Nostalgic walk
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Music in the 1990s: A Nostalgic walk

Considered as the ‘Golden Period’ of the Indian music industry, the 90s preserved the vibrant heritage of Indian classical music and broke the glass ceiling in due course of time

Post by on Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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TASADUQ HIDAYAT


The Indian subcontinent had one system of music throughout the country until the 13th century. The Indian Music followed the fundamentals of Octaves (music intervals) and Shruti (that which is heard). Around the 14th century, the glorious and nuanced art form, i.e., Indian classical music bifurcated into two systems. In Haripala’s ‘Sangeeta Sudhakara’, these were termed as Hindustani and Carnatic Music systems. In the 18th century, Indian music developed multifaceted musical activities. Notwithstanding the growth of Western music, the Indian music industry carved a niche for itself in the world of music.

The bifurcation of Indian music was the most significant event in its history. The 18th century brought about unforeseen developments not only in Hindustani and Carnatic music but also in the world of Western Music. These changes were mainly attributed to the influence the rulers had over the North and South of India. North India was influenced by Persian and Arabic Music because of the influence of Muslim rulers. But South India progressed with classical musicdue to the encouragement by Hindu rulers.

It is worth noting that the upward spiral of Indian classical music was primarily because of the rulers and their influence but gradually as technology gained momentum,the world of Indian classical music broke the glass ceiling.The technical advancements in electronic media, refined printing, publishing techniques, and communication networks immensely helped in the spreading of music and its knowledge. Multitrack recording, auto-tune, digital software, iPods, digital streaming software, loop pedals, MIDI (Musical Instrumental digital interface), etc., changed the Indian music industry forever. Consequentially, our society is changing at a rapid rate and the music industry is no exception. No doubt, the technological advances shaped the Indian music industry but the 90’s will forever be cherished.  That is why the 90s era is often considered as the ‘Golden Era’ ofthe Indian Music Industry. The lyrical ingenuity, melodic musical compositionand the unerring blend of instrumentals came together to make a deep impression on our mindsdue to the sheer range of compositions. No wonder they were known as ‘Evergreen Songs.’

The 90s songs and the background scores were perfectly attuned not only to the script of the movies but also the temperament of the audience. Noticeably, these songs are unforgettable for those who grew up during that time; because it wasn’t just about listening to the songs but also about learning and relating to it. Anu Malik, Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit, Shankar Ehsan Loy, AR Rahman, etc., were the top music composers and directors of the time. The 90s era produced singers whose voices reverberated with the tune of the time. Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alisha Chenoi, SP Balasubramanyam, AlkaYagnik, etc., were the singers who ruled the ‘90s. Purity, integrity, and professionalism were the key priorities in the industry during this period.

The singers religiously followed what is known as ‘Indian Melody and its Arrangement.’ Instead of burrowing heavily from western music, like for example, using words of endearment which are commonly used these days; the musicians solely focused on authenticity of melodies. In an interview Kumar Sanu said, “I want to give credit to Nadeem-Shravan who recognized my talent and told me to sing in my original way; otherwise, I used to copy Kishore Kumar. Nadeem-Shravan duo was a great composer who gave me the chance to try my style and that is why all the songs of Aashiqui movie were super-duper hit.”

The 90s was a glorious decade for the Indian music industry where every genre of music was soul-stirring; ranging from semi-classical to folk, thoughtful to cheesy, every song was an ultimate blend of muse and melody. The ebb and flow of the lyrics wrapped intricately in the melodious tunes often got stuck in our minds and hearts. These songs generated revenues for all those composers who released remixes, which were unheard of before. The remixes of the 90s were a class apart; one such example is the music album of ‘Bombay Vikings.’

Due to the global recognition of the Indian music industry, many artists from different countries expressed interest to work in India. Adnan Sami is one among the few early faces of that decade who was recognized for his musical talent.  The Indian music industry also invited a few legendary singers to get a taste of the international pop music market. The Pakistani singers who debuted in the Indian music Industry co-created a fantastic melodious fusion with their Indian counterparts. In the later phase of the 90s, the Indipop culture was introduced in the Indian music Industry; Sonu Nigam is one such example who actively contributed to the Indipop trajectory.

It has been three decades since then but the current Indian music industry has failed to scale up to the level and legacy of the 90s. Upon close observation, when one dissects the current musical hits, one will find a hidden element of the 90s composition. I am sure that a lot of us will unanimously agree that the 90s is the nucleus of the music industry.

(Author is an RK columnist. He has done PG in Journalism and Mass Communication from IUST, Awantipora. He can be reached at:syedtasaduqnazmi@gmail.com)


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