Indian women have been an intrinsic part of the legacy of soulful, spiritually uplifting music, be it mystic poets like Mirabai, Lal Ded or classical vocalists like M. S. Subbulakshmi, Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Lakshmi Shankar among others.

More recently, modern musicians are digging deep into the treasure trove of classical ragas and layering them with ambient and experimental sound to design music for rest, reflection and healing.

On this International Women’s Day meet women who are bringing Indian sounds to the global stage:

Charu Suri  

Indo-American composer and prodigious pianist Charu Suri was in the news recently for her pioneering raga-jazz album 'Shayan'.Nominated in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category at the Grammys, it is replete with soothing Hindustani ragas like Kalyani, Desh and Jog as well as improvisational, soulful jazz notes. 

Presented in collaboration with Vedam Records, 'Shayan' is a counterpoint to the culture of frenzied hustle, mind chatter and restlessness and invites  listeners into an almost hypnotic soundscape where they can cast away their cares and surrender to  deep sleep. This restorative album along with previous works like 'The Book of Ragas', 'Rags & Ragas' and 'Ragas & Waltzes', is reflective of Charu's rich oeuvre which is global in its reach and Indian at heart.  Another significant feature of 'Shayan' is Charu's rewarding collaborations with international artists including guitarist Jim Kimo West, flutist Premik Russell Tubbs and cellist Tess Remy-Schumacher.  

Anoushka Shankar  

Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar's lineage is formidable but this daughter and disciple of the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar has created a distinct legacy of her own. She has done this by expanding the vocabulary of classical music, exploring widely divergent genres and global sounds while synergising with artists of different nationalities including Karsh Kale with whom she co-created 'Breathing Under Water'.  Her work including the much loved 'Land of Gold' has a meditative quality and a spirit of spiritual inquiry. In fact, at the age of just 15, she contributed to her father's acclaimed album, 'Chants of India' which was produced by George Harrison. More than 30 years of global performances and 14 Grammy nominations later, Anoushka's success is a testimony to not just the skill of a classically proficient musician but the heart of an artist whose emotionally charged music continues to move millions across the world.  

Kala Ramnath

"She’s one of the greatest musicians on the planet,” wrote the San Francisco Chronicle in 2015. The Jazzwise magazine in 2004 had already proclaimed Kala Ramnath as a "musician of giant-like qualities,” adding, "If Mozart had been transported to the South Asian subcontinent this is what improvised Western classical music might have sounded like" .

This celebrated classical violinist from the Mewati gharana who also trained with the late Pandit Jasraj, has performed across the world at prestigious venues like  Sydney Opera House, London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall among others. Not limiting herself to her traditional training, she has collaborated with artists like rock legend Ray Manzarek of the Doors and seamlessly integrated cadences from Western classical, jazz, Flamenco and traditional African music in her work. In her website kalaramnath.com, she dwells upon the healing qualities of music and her large following across the globe would surely vouch for the restorative quality of her sublime music.

Bombay Jayashri

In 2009, Carnatik vocalist Bombay Jayashri released a classical jugalbandi album called 'Wind Song' with famous flutist Pandit  Ronu Majumdar featuring devotional, and raga-based compositions, including meditative tracks like Before The Dawn, Evensong, among others. Apart from her hugely popular film songs, her repertoire includes Bhajans, Kritis, and mantras, such as Smaranam - Song Of The Soul.  The live performances of the fourth generation vocalist are also known for their becalming resonance. She has performed on the global stage frequently and one of her biggest  triumphs was an Academy Award  nomination (Best Original Song) for 'Pi's Lullaby' from 'Life of Pi'. This was the first Tamil song ever nominated in that category.