Documentaries on Indian Classical Music
Documentaries and films about the musicians and the music. Most of the older documentaries are free from Films Division of India.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
FreeGulzar · 1992
Gulzar's portrait of the Kirana singer, on stage and at home.
Sangeet Nidhi Bhimsen Joshi
FreeGulzar · 1994
A second Films Division tribute to Bhimsen Joshi by Gulzar.
Hans Akela
FreeJabbar Patel · 2005
Kumar Gandharva's music, retraced by his grandson Bhuvanesh Komkali.
Watch free on YouTube (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) ›
Bhinna Shadja
FreeAmol Palekar and Sandhya Gokhale · 2011
Kishori Amonkar in her own words, commissioned by India's Ministry of External Affairs.
Bansuri Guru
FreeRajeev Chaurasia · 2013
Hariprasad Chaurasia's life in music, made by his son.
Ustad Alla Rakha
FreeShekhar Nair · 1970
A short portrait of the tabla master, with a glimpse of a young Zakir Hussain.
Amir Khan
FreeS.N.S. Sastry · 1970
A short Films Division film on Ustad Amir Khan of the Indore gharana.
Dhrupad
FreeMani Kaul · 1982
Mani Kaul's film on dhrupad, with Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Zia Fariduddin Dagar.
Siddheshwari
FreeMani Kaul · 1989
A poetic portrait of the Benares thumri singer Siddheshwari Devi.
Gangubai Hangal
FreeFilms Division
Films Division's portrait of the Kirana gharana singer.
Forever a Legend
FreeV. Rajgopal · 2000
A Films Division documentary on M.S. Subbulakshmi, in parts on YouTube.
The Speaking Hand
Sumantra Ghosal · 2003
Zakir Hussain and the art of the tabla.
The Disciple
Chaitanya Tamhane · 2020
A feature film about a young khayal singer in Mumbai; prize-winner at Venice.
Jalsaghar (The Music Room)
Satyajit Ray · 1958
Ray's feature about a fading zamindar's music room, with Begum Akhtar and Bismillah Khan.