Tricks to Remember Famous Musical Instruments and Players for Competitive Exams With 100 Practice MCQs

Table of Contents

Sarod

Main Trick/Hint: Now, the keyword for sarod is actor Allu Arjun. Here, we link every sarod player to Allu Arjun so we can remember it. Allu Arjun is connected because there is a movie called Sarrainodu, and it sounds similar.

1. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: Madhya Pradesh (Born in Gwalior).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (2001), Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Shri (1975), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan; Senia Bangash Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: “Sarod Samrat.”
Recent news/current affairs: In 2025-26, he has been a vocal advocate for including Indian classical music in school curriculums and performed at the United Nations to promote global peace.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He represents the 6th generation of his lineage. He is credited with modifying the Sarod to make it more melodic and capable of complex tantrakari (instrumental techniques). He often collaborates with his sons, Amaan and Ayaan.
Trick/Hint: There are two A’s, like in Amjad Ali, so “AA” means Allu Arjun.

2. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: West Bengal (Born in East Bengal, now Bangladesh).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (1989), MacArthur “Genius” Grant (First Indian to receive it).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Allauddin Khan (his father); Maihar Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: “Swar Samrat.”
Recent news/current affairs: The Ali Akbar College of Music in California continues to be the primary global hub for preserving the Maihar tradition.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was instrumental in popularizing Indian classical music in the West alongside Ravi Shankar. Yehudi Menuhin once called him “the greatest musician in the world.”
Trick/Hint: There are two A’s, like in Ali Akbar, so “AA” means Allu Arjun.

3. Ustad Allauddin Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod (also a multi-instrumentalist)
Type of instrument: String (Tata Vadya)
State associated: Madhya Pradesh (Maihar Court).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (1971), Padma Bhushan (1958).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Wazir Khan (Senia Gharana); Founder of the Maihar Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: “Baba” Allauddin Khan.
Recent news/current affairs: His residence in Maihar (Madina Bhavan) is a protected heritage site and a place of pilgrimage for musicians.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was the guru of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Annapurna Devi. He founded the Maihar Band, which was the first of its kind in Indian classical music to use an orchestral format.
Trick/Hint: There are two A’s, like in Allauddin, so “AA” means Allu Arjun.

4. Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Tata Vadya)
State associated: Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (1960).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Wazir Khan; Bangash/Senia Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: A legendary court musician of Gwalior.
Recent news/current affairs: The Sarod Ghar in Gwalior, a museum of musical instruments, was established in his ancestral home.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was the father and guru of Amjad Ali Khan. He is known for a style that was extremely technical and powerful, rooted in the dhrupad tradition.
Trick/Hint: “Hafiz” and “fiz” sound like “fees.” In the Allu Arjun movie Son of Satyamurthy, he works at weddings to pay his nephew’s school fees.

5. Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Tata Vadya)
State associated: West Bengal (Kolkata).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2012), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1993).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Radhika Mohan Maitra; Shahjahanpur Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: Known for his academic and analytical approach to music.
Recent news/current affairs: His style is preserved as a distinct alternative to the Maihar and Bangash styles, noted for its intricate “Bol-kaari.”
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was a mechanical engineer by profession, proving that one could excel in both a technical career and classical music at the highest level.
Trick/Hint: “Gup” in “Gupta” sounds like “cup,” which can mean an award. Allu Arjun won a National Award for Pushpa, the first in the Telugu film industry.

6. Ustad Ashish Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: West Bengal / International (Born in Maihar).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical & Fusion
Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004), Grammy Nomination.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (father) and Annapurna Devi (aunt); Maihar Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: A pioneer of Indo-Jazz fusion.
Recent news/current affairs: He is frequently recognized for his work with the band “Shanti,” which was one of the earliest groups to blend Indian classical music with rock and jazz.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is the grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan. He was the first project leader for the “World Music” department at various international universities, significantly spreading the Maihar style globally.
Trick/Hint: “Ash” in “Ashish” is like after fire (ash). In Allu Arjun’s Pushpa, there is a famous dialogue: “Pushpa means fire,” so remember it like this.

7. Amaan Ali Bangash

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: Delhi / Madhya Pradesh.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Award, various national youth honors.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (father); Senia Bangash Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: One half of the “Sarod Brothers.”
Recent news/current affairs: Recently performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert and is active in digital concerts promoting Indian heritage to Gen-Z.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He represents the 7th generation of the Bangash lineage. He is known for a very aggressive and technically fast style of playing, often performing duets (Jugalbandi) with his brother Ayaan.
Trick/Hint: Same AA trick/hint.

8. Ayaan Ali Bangash

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: Delhi / Madhya Pradesh.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Gladrags Manhunt Award (notable for his versatile public profile), Sanskriti Award.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (father); Senia Bangash Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: One half of the “Sarod Brothers.”
Recent news/current affairs: Collaborative projects with international orchestras and electronic music producers in 2025-26 to modernize the appeal of the Sarod.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: Younger son of Amjad Ali Khan. Like his brother, he is credited with making the Sarod popular among younger audiences through television appearances and fusion albums like Reincarnation.
Trick/Hint: Same AA trick/hint.

9. Abhishek Lahiri

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: West Bengal (Kolkata).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Alok Lahiri (father); Shahjahanpur / Maihar influences.
Nicknames/titles: A “Rising Star of Sarod.”
Recent news/current affairs: Frequently invited to perform at the Darbar Festival in London, representing the younger generation of Indian instrumentalists.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is noted for his ability to blend the technical intricacies of the Shahjahanpur Gharana with the melodic sweetness of the Maihar style.
Trick/Hint: “Shek” in “Abhishek” sounds like “shake.” Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 collected so much money that it shook all the film industries, so remember it like this.

10. Sharan Rani Backliwal

Name of the musical instrument: Sarod
Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Fretless)
State associated: Delhi.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (2000), Padma Bhushan (1968).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Allauddin Khan and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan; Maihar Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: “Sarod Rani” (The Queen of Sarod).
Recent news/current affairs: Her massive collection of rare musical instruments (the Sharan Rani Backliwal Gallery) is a permanent exhibit at the National Museum in New Delhi.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: She was the first prominent female Sarod player in India, breaking a long-standing gender barrier in a field previously dominated by men.
Trick/Hint: “Back” in “Backiwal” is like moving backwards. In Allu Arjun’s Pushpa, there is a famous dialogue “Thaggedhe Le,” which means not going backwards, so remember it like this.

Shehnai

Main Trick/Hint: Now, the word for shehnai is Chennai because both sound similar.

Tricks to Remember Image Formation in Mirrors and Lenses For Competitive Exams

1. Ustad Bismillah Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya – Double Reed)
State associated: Bihar (Born in Dumraon); associated with Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Bharat Ratna (2001), Padma Vibhushan (1980), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma Shri (1961).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ali Bux ‘Vilayatu’ (his uncle).
Nicknames/titles: “Shehnai King”; “Ustad”.
Recent news/current affairs: His birth anniversary on March 21 is celebrated annually as a tribute to the man who brought the Shehnai to the global stage.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He had the rare honor of performing at the Red Fort on August 15, 1947, greeting independent India. He also performed at the Red Fort on India’s first Republic Day in 1950. He was the first Indian to perform at the Lincoln Center Hall, USA.
Trick/Hint: Remember it like this: there is a Bismillah shop in Chennai.

2. Bageshwari Qamar

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Delhi.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: “Shehnai Queen” title, various state cultural honors.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Nicknames/titles: India’s First Female Shehnai Player.
Recent news/current affairs: Often cited in exams under “First in India” or “Women in Arts” sections for breaking the gender barrier of a male-dominated instrument.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: She was the only female disciple of Ustad Bismillah Khan. She made her debut in 1983 and was crowned “Shehnai Queen” at the Chandigarh Music Festival.
Trick/Hint: “Baag” means run away in Hindi, so remember it like running to Chennai.

3. Pandit Anant Lal

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Motilal and Mithailal; Varanasi Gharana.
Recent news/current affairs: His sons and grandsons (Shankar brothers) carry forward the “Anant-Dhwani” legacy through global tours.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was a prominent staff artist for All India Radio (AIR) and is credited with standardizing the Shehnai for broadcasting.
Trick/Hint: Anant Ambani is one of the owners of Mumbai Indians. A famous IPL match is Mumbai vs Chennai, so remember it like this.

4. Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: West Bengal (Kolkata).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009), Banga Bibhushan.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Nazir Hussain; Banaras Gharana influence.
Recent news/current affairs: Following his passing in 2016, his contributions are frequently mentioned in “Art & Culture” archives as the man who modernized shehnai playing in East India.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He performed at the inauguration of the Doordarshan channel in 1959. He was known for his mastery over the “Tan” (melodic runs) on the Shehnai.
Trick/Hint: We know “AA” means Allu Arjun. “Hussain” sounds similar to Usain Bolt. So remember it like Allu Arjun goes to Chennai, like in the Pushpa movie.

5. Pandit S. Ballesh

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Karnataka (Born in Belagavi); based in Chennai.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Shri (2022).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Nicknames/titles: “Dakshina Bismillah Khan.”
Recent news/current affairs: Actively performs at major temple festivals in South India and is known for playing the Shehnai for A.R. Rahman’s film scores.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is one of the most prominent disciples of Bismillah Khan and is unique for bridging the gap between North and South Indian musical cultures.
Trick/Hint: Ball in cricket. In the IPL, one of the most famous teams is Chennai, so remember it like this.

6. Ustad Krishna Ram Chaudhary

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Shri (2017), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ramlal Chaudhary.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was a senior exponent of the Varanasi style of Shehnai and was famous for his “Purbi Ang” (eastern style) thumris on the instrument.
Trick/Hint: Remember it like this: two friends, Krishna and Ram, come to Chennai.

7. Sanjeev Shankar & Ashwani Shankar (The Shankar Brothers)

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Delhi / Uttar Pradesh.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Anant Lal and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Recent news/current affairs: Frequent performers at international world music festivals, representing the youthful face of the Shehnai in the 2020s.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: They are the sons of Daya Shankar. They have innovated the Shehnai by collaborating with sitar and western instruments, often playing in a “Jugalbandi” format.
Trick/Hint: “Shankar” means something similar to heat, and Chennai has a lot of heat and high temperature, so remember it like this.

8. Pandit Daya Shankar

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kala Ratna.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Anant Lal (his father); Varanasi Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: A master of the “Tantrakari” style on Shehnai.
Recent news/current affairs: His legacy is actively carried forward by his sons, Sanjeev and Ashwani Shankar, who are currently leading Shehnai exponents.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was instrumental in expanding the repertoire of the Shehnai by adapting complex string-instrument techniques (Tantrakari) to a wind instrument.
Trick/Hint: “Shankar” means something somewhat related to heat, and Chennai has a lot of heat and high temperature, so remember it like this.

9. Lokesh Anand

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Delhi / Haryana.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Shehnai Ratna, Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Anant Lal and Pandit Daya Shankar.
Recent news/current affairs: Frequently featured in national cultural festivals like the Tansen Samaroh and Taj Mahotsav.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is known for his ability to play the “Meend” (continuous glides) with extreme clarity, a feat that is technically very difficult on a double-reed instrument like the Shehnai.
Trick/Hint: “Anandham” means happy in Telugu, so remember it like this: you watched Chennai and Dhoni in Chennai. We relate it to the player’s name, so it becomes easy to remember no matter what.

10. Ustad Nazir Hussain

Name of the musical instrument: Shehnai
Type of instrument: Wind (Sushira Vadya)
State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Historical recognition in the Benaras music tradition.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Varanasi Gharana.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was one of the senior-most teachers of the Shehnai in the mid-20th century and played a pivotal role in training Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan, helping spread the Varanasi style to West Bengal.
Trick/Hint: “Hussain” sounds like Usain Bolt. Remember it like he runs fast to go to Chennai.

Violin

Main Trick/Hint: Now, the word for violin is “violent” or “power.”

1. V.G. Jog (Vishnu Govind Jog)

Name of the musical instrument: Violin
Type of instrument: String (Bowed – Tata Vadya)
State associated: Maharashtra / West Bengal.
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (1983), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1980).
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ganpat Rao Purohit and S.N. Ratanjankar; Gwalior/Agra influence.
Nicknames/titles: The “Uncrowned King” of Hindustani Violin.
Recent news/current affairs: His birth centenary (1922–2022) was recently marked by commemorative concerts across major Indian metros.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is credited with establishing the violin as a major solo instrument in Hindustani music. He was a prominent performer at the All India Radio and was known for his “Sawal-Jawab” (dialogue) style in duets.
Trick/Hint: If you jog daily, you become fit and powerful.

2. Dr. N. Rajam

Name of the musical instrument: Violin
Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
State associated: Tamil Nadu (Born in Chennai); associated with Varanasi (BHU).
Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2004), Padma Shri (1984), Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Omkarnath Thakur; Gwalior Gharana.
Nicknames/titles: Pioneer of the ‘Gayaki Ang’ on Violin.
Recent news/current affairs: She continues to perform with her daughter Sangeeta and granddaughters, representing three generations of the “Rajam School” of violin.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: She famously adapted the Hindustani vocal style (Gayaki Ang) to the violin, making the instrument “sing” the nuances of the human voice. She served as a Professor and Dean at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Trick/Hint: “Raj” means king. Some kings are very powerful and violent.

3. Lalgudi Jayaraman

Name of the musical instrument: Violin
Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
State associated: Tamil Nadu (Lalgudi).
Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Shri (1972), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Guru or musical tradition/gharana: V.R. Gopala Iyer (his father).
Nicknames/titles: Part of the “Carnatic Violin Trinity.”
Recent news/current affairs: His Thillanas (rhythmic compositions) remain the most performed pieces in Bharatnatyam dance recitals globally.
Important facts commonly asked in exams: He invented a unique style of playing that emphasized the lyrical beauty of the composition. He was also a prolific composer of Varnams and Thillanas that are staples in the Carnatic repertoire.
Trick/Hint: “Gudi” means temple in Telugu. So remember it like this: if you go to a temple, you will get positive energy and power.

Tricks To Remember Important Festivals For Competitive Exams With 100 Practice MCQs

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