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Begum Parveen Sultana was born in 1950 into a musical Afghan family in Assam, northeastern India. Beginning her training at five, she later learnt music under legends like Acharya Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri and her future husband, Ustad Dilshad Khan. Known for her enviable vocal range, Sultana is adept in classical khayal, thumri, and bhajan styles in Hindustani music. She is a recipient of Padma Shree, Sangeet Natak Akademy, and Padma Bhushan awards.

Nagaswaram playing husband-wife duo Sheikh Mahboob Subhani and Begum Kaleeshabi Mahboob hail from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and were disciples of Sangita Kalanidhi Shiekh Chinna Moulana Sahib. The couple won the “Padma Shri” honor from the Government of India in 2020. They are celebrated for their contemplative playing on the Nagaswaram which can often sound loud and blaring in the hands of lesser players.

Ustad Zakir Hussain (1951 – 2024) was an internationally acclaimed Tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer and film actor. Son of the legend Ustad Alla Rakha who introduced the Tabla to the Western audience, Zakir Hussein started performing on stage when he was just 7! Throughout his career he collaborated with musicians all over the world and won dozens of national and international honors.

Vidwan Nagore S M A Kader learnt music from vocalist and Harmonium maestro Dawud Miyan Khan Sahib of Nagore. Kader held the prestigious position of Asthana Vidwan (the resident music exponent) of Nagore Dargah, the famous shrine located in Tamil Nadu. Kader recorded hundreds of Islamic devotionals but also a couple of Tyagraja kirtanas on Lord Rama.

Ustad Vilayat Khan (1928 – 2004) was an Indian classical sitar player born into a musical family in the village of Gauripur, East Bengal. He developed the unique Gayaki Ang of sitar playing. He was an international performer, film music composer and made numerous recordings. Vilayat Khan stood by his principles and refused many of the Indian civilian honors that came to him. He trained several top musicians including his brother Ustad Imrat Khan, sons Ustads Shujaat Khan and Hidyat Khan and also Pandit Arvind Parikh.

Carnatic violinist, vocalist and guru T M Abdul Azeez is the son of Prof T A Mohideen, a past principal of RLV College of Music near Ernakulam, Kerala. Vidwan Azeez has taught at several music colleges in Kerala and Karnataka.

Padma Bhushan Begum Akhtar (1914 – 1974), born Akhtaribai Faizabadi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was a musician, playback singer and film actress who trained under stalwarts such as Ustads Imdad Khan, Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Ata Mohammed Khan and Abdul Wahid Khan. Often called the Queen of Ghazal, Akhtaribai was celebrated for singing Dadras and Thumris as well.

Nagaswaram maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Sheikh Chinna Moulana Sahib (1924 – 1999) was born in a Telugu speaking Muslim family and had his initial training under his father Kasim Sahib, and later from Vidwan Adam Sahib. He received further training in the Tanjore style of playing under the Nachiarkoil brothers, Rajan and Dorai Kannu. He was a star performer becoming the first nagaswaram player to introduce this quintessentially Tamil instrument to international audiences. He trained a legion of disciples who carry his name forward to this day.

Born to Chanda Begum and Ustad Abdul Haqq Khan as Wahidunnissa in Calcutta, Hindustani vocalist and film playback singer Roshan Ara Begum (1917 – 1982) learnt music under Mumtaz Hussein, Laddan Khan and later under the legend Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, the doyen of Kirana Gharana. She settled in West Punjab, Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947 and continued to be regarded as a top musician till her death.

Nagaswaram maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Sheikh Chinna Moulana Sahib (1924 – 1999) was born in a Telugu speaking Muslim family and had his initial training under his father Kasim Sahib, and later from Vidwan Adam Sahib. He received further training in the Tanjore style of playing under the Nachiarkoil brothers, Rajan and Dorai Kannu. He was a star performer becoming the first nagaswaram player to introduce this quintessentially Tamil instrument to international audiences. He trained a legion of disciples who carry his name forward to this day.

Padma Bhushan Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (1902 – 1968) was born in Pakistan in a family of musicians. He learnt music from his father Ali Baksh Khan and later his uncle Kale Khan. Khan Sahib, belonging to the Patiala Gharana, was the foremost exponent of Thumri with an extraordinary vocal range, technique and brilliant sense of melody. He migrated to Pakistan in 1947 during partition of India but came back to live in India till his death. He is often referred to as the Tansen (legendary musician of Emperor Akbar’s court) of the 20th century.

Padma Bhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (1922 – 2009) was the son and disciple of celebrated musician - teacher Ustad Allauddin Khan and brother of Annapurna Devi. Ali Akbar Khan was an acclaimed master of the Sarod and was known for his collaborations with sitarists Pandit Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee and Carnatic violinist L Subramaniam.