There are many forms of popular music in India. Some are contemporary, some are traditional. There is often very little in common with these genre except that they belong neither to the classical traditions nor can they rightly be attributed to the folk or tribal cultures. Never-the-less many of these genre may show elements of folk or classical music.
Pages for "Filmi (Bollywood) and Other Indian Pop Music"
Bollywood / Filmi - This is the most popular form of music in India today. Although many people treat the terms "Bollywood" and "filmi" as being synonymous, strictly speaking only the Hindi films coming from Bombay (Mumbai) should be called "Bollywood".
Film Songs Based Upon Rags - This is a list of classical based film songs indexed by the name of the song.
Bhangra - This was originally a folk song/ dance that has shed its folk associations and is now considered to be a urban commercial genre. It is very popular among the youth and among the Indian diaspora.
Qawwali - This is a form of Islamic devotional song. Musically it has some common features with the bhajan, although thematically it is very different.
Ghazal - This is a form of song which has evolved from poetic recitation. It has elements of classical music, but it cannot really be considered to be classical.
Kirtan/ Dhun - Kirtan and dhun are forms of Hindu religious songs. They tend to overlap with the Bhajan.
Geet - This is a general term for a non-classical song. Strictly speaking, there is no genre known as geet, but it is a catch-all term to describe a number of unrelated, non-classical, yet non-folk, or film songs.
Selected Video
Begum Parveen Sultana, Awesome Bhajan
QAWWALI ALLAH JANTA HAI MOHAMMAD KA MARTABA
Raha Gardishon Men Haradam (Do Badan - 1966)
Bhari Duniya Men Akhir Dil Ko Samajhane Kahan Jaayen (Do Badan - 1966)
