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
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.â€
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)