Falu writes and performs “indie Hindi” music—a blend of rock and Indian styles—exploring the many regions, languages, cultures, and traditions in India. Using Indian rhythms, vocal styles, and percussion alongside modern instruments such as electric guitars, Falu celebrates how music can beautifully express both difference and connection across cultures.
Take a brief tour through the sights and sounds of India by watching this video introducing Falu and her band Karyshma’s album Someday. In the video, Falu and fellow musicians talk about how music can connect people across multiple cultures and languages both within India and throughout the world.
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“Nadi” is a new take on a very old song, based on the South Asian tradition called Thumri that dates back to the 15th century. In Falu’s version, she blends in musical ideas from American country music. The lyrics mean: “Here I am swinging on a swing by the river…swinging up…swinging down. This season of love is passing me by…you are not here. My heart chants your name again and again, the name that’s engraved in my heart. I write something on my bracelet, and read it every time the swing takes me up and brings me down.” If you have a chance to be on a swing, think about how the feeling of moving up and down might relate to the love and sadness in this song.
Click the CC button on the video player to view the video with closed captions.
To use Audio Description, click the Audio Track button and choose “en (Descriptive).”
Review some tips to help make your viewing experience sensory-friendly.
Find a map of India and choose a state or region that isn’t familiar to you. What is the region like? Does it have lots of cities, or is it mostly small towns and countryside? What is the land like—does it have deserts, mountains, rivers, or other geographic features? What languages are spoken there and what religions are practiced? Look up music, clothing, dance, and art from the area. Are they similar to what you saw in Falu’s video? What food is in the area—does anything look particularly tasty? Then, imagine you were going to take a trip to this region with a friend. What would you tell your friend to make them excited to go?
Falu (aka Falguni Shah) is an internationally recognized artist known for her rare ability to seamlessly blend a signature modern inventive style with a formidable Indian classically-shaped vocal talent. In her early years in Bombay, she was trained rigorously in the Jaipur musical tradition and in the Benares style of Thumrie under the legendary Kaumudi Munshi and semi-classical music from Uday Mazumdar. She later continued studying under the late sarangi/vocal master Ustad Sultan Khan, and later with the legendary Smt. Kishori Amonkar (Jaipur style). Falu moved to the States in 2000 and was appointed as a visiting lecturer at Tufts University. Her subsequent career in the States had led to a series of high profile collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Wyclef Jean, Philip Glass, Ricky Martin, Blues Traveler, and A. R. Rahman amongst others. Falu continues to pursue her commitment to introducing children to the wonders of the world through her recently released, Grammy-nominated debut kids project, “Falu’s Bazaar,” which takes families on a musical journey through South Asia. Learn more about Falu by visiting her website.
Explore India and its multiple cultures and the art they produce. Listen to experienced musicians perform tabla beats, learn about the Bharatanatyam dance, and catch a movie produced by Bollywood, one of the largest centers of film production in the world.
Learn about traditional Indian Bharatanatyam dance from the Ragamala Dance company
The music of India is diverse, but there is still a distinct “sound” that makes Indian music unmistakable-- use this resource to learn the basics of Indian music.
This 3-part audio series explores different aspects of Indian music: Indian musical instruments; the styles of music across India; and what makes Indian music unique—and where it is going
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Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Genesis Inspiration Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
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