The difference between south indian carnatic and north indian hindusthani classical songs.

Neela Bhagwat answers the question: difference between carnatic and hindusthani music.
Neela Bhagwat is a familiar name for lovers of Hindustani music the world over. As a front-ranking exponent of the Gwalior style of singing.

[hansvishwanath]

There are larger differences than the fundamentals being  mentioned. 1. Carnatic music has lot more sahithya compared to Hindustani music. It is extremely important to have clarity in singing sahithya (Lyrics).  Lyrics especially in Sanskrit require perfect pronunciation- some examples are Muthuswamy dixitar and Jayachamaraja wadeyar compositions) in Carnatic music as the meaning of the song can change if notes are not pronounced correctly.  2.    For a Carnatic purist -   Hindustani singing  sounds like having mixed ragas ( as Carnatic system is more complex, stringent in terms of raga,  gam akas) and sometimes  Purists cannot understand which raga is being sung when all notes are not clearly being pronounced. 3. Carnatic music has a tradition of a very strong Hindu culture where as Hindustani (even though name sounds Hindu) has more Persian, Arabic, in other words  and has Islamic influence 4. Carnatic music is structured with 72 Melakarthas where as eauivalent Hindustani has 10 that. Hence Carnatic music gives rise to more Ragas mathematically (17 notes Vs 12 notes as mentioned) 5. It takes a longer time span  to learn Carnatic music  than Hindustani music  due to these differences.6. Hindustani Music can be played on keyboard/ harmonium (discrete mathematical function). But Carnatic music cannot be played on either keyboard/harmonium due to its limitations for playing Gamakas.( continuous mathematical function). Hence Carnatic music is accompanied by stringed instruments (violin, Veena) which are capable of playing gamakas.
7. Most of the Hindustani compositions start Tala(beat) in  samam which makes it easier for musician to sing, and tabla player to play,  where as in Carnatic music majority of the compositions start off beat, ( 1/2,  1, 1 1/2, 2 1/2 upto 8 beats (ex: atta Tala (14 to 28 beats) gets highly mathematical)  it is more difficult to sing and  provides versatality in playing mridanga at the same time . Hopefully this helps!
 

[Thermionman]

This is so cool and interesting l.Thankyou!

[rajeshkool]

Really good and helpful video to understand difference between both the styles of classical music.... thanks

[rooneynegi]

easy to do phd in fin math than understanding her :P....