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

4. M.S. Gopalakrishnan (MSG)

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu (Chennai).
• Classical or folk category: Both Hindustani and Carnatic Classical.
• Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2012), Padma Shri (1975), Sangeetha Kalanidhi.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Parur Sundaram Iyer.
• Nicknames/titles: Part of the “Carnatic Violin Trinity.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Often cited as the benchmark for “Parur style,” which integrates Western violin techniques with Indian classical music.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was one of the very few musicians capable of playing both Hindustani and Carnatic styles with equal mastery. He was known for his incredible speed and use of the “spiccato” bowing technique.
• Trick/Hint: Remember it like this: Krishna is very powerful.

5. T.N. Krishnan

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
• State associated: Kerala (Born in Tripunithura); based in Tamil Nadu.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (1992), Padma Bhushan (1973), Sangeetha Kalanidhi (1980).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar (Musical mentor).
• Nicknames/titles: Part of the “Carnatic Violin Trinity.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Following his passing in 2020, he is remembered for his “pristine” and “chaste” traditional style.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was known for his soulful rendering of ragas and was a long-time professor at the Music Academy, Chennai.
• Trick/Hint: Remember it like this: Krishna is very powerful.

6. Dr. L. Subramaniam

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
• State associated: Karnataka / Tamil Nadu.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical & Global Fusion
• Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Shri (1988), Grammy Nomination.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: V. Lakshminarayana (his father).
• Nicknames/titles: “The Paganini of Indian Classical Music.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Curator of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, which promotes cross-cultural collaborations.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is the leading figure in Indo-Western orchestral fusion. He has collaborated with legends like Yehudi Menuhin and Stevie Wonder and composed the score for the film Mississippi Masala.
• Trick/Hint: Remember it like this: the Subramaniam Swamy temple is very powerful.

7. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical & Light Music
• Important awards won: Padma Shri (2005), Kalaimamani.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Ramaswamy Sastri.
• Nicknames/titles: Known for his large vermillion bindi and vibrant stage presence.
• Recent news/current affairs: His style is often used in devotional and film music, making the violin accessible to the common public.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was famous for producing percussive sounds on the violin and for his mastery over “finger-tapping” techniques. He served as the Secretary of the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival.
• Trick/Hint: “Vaidhyam” means medicine, and some medicines are very powerful.

8. L. Shankar (Shenkar)

• Name of the musical instrument: Double Violin / Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu / International.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical & Fusion
• Important awards won: Grammy Award (as part of the group Global Drum Project).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: V. Lakshminarayana; Shakti (band) founder.
• Nicknames/titles: Inventor of the Stereo Double Violin.
• Recent news/current affairs: Frequently works with Hollywood composers and rock stars like Peter Gabriel.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He co-founded the legendary fusion band Shakti with John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain. He designed the Double Violin to cover the entire range of the orchestra (double bass to violin).
• Trick/Hint: “Shankar” means heat, but it is for shehnai, so add an “L” (like “V”) and remember it like violin.

9. Sangeeta Shankar

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed – Tata Vadya)
• State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi) / Maharashtra (Mumbai).
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
• Important awards won: various State awards, Gaan-Vardhan Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Dr. N. Rajam (her mother); Gwalior Gharana influence.
• Nicknames/titles: One of the foremost exponents of the “Rajam School.”
• Recent news/current affairs: She is highly active in the 2020s in digital music education, launching platforms to teach the “Gayaki Ang” technique to global students.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: She began her career as a child prodigy and is known for maintaining the technical purity of the vocal style on the violin. She often performs in a unique “three-generation” ensemble alongside her mother and her daughters.
• Trick/Hint: “Shankar” means heat, but it is for shehnai, so add “S,” which means rotation or turning roads like violent roads, so remember it like this.

10. Kala Ramnath

• Name of the musical instrument: Violin
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed – Tata Vadya)
• State associated: Maharashtra (Mumbai).
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical & Fusion
• Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2017), Grammy Nomination (for the album Miles from India).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Dr. N. Rajam and Pandit Jasraj; Mewati/Gwalior influence.
• Nicknames/titles: “Singing Violin.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Recognized by Gramophone magazine as one of the 50 best instrumentalists in the world. She frequently collaborates with orchestras in the UK and USA.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: While she was trained by N. Rajam, she also studied under the legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj, which allowed her to incorporate the Mewati Gharana vocal nuances into her violin playing. She is the founder of the ‘Kalashree’ foundation.
• Trick/Hint: “Kala” means dark, so remember it like this: violent UV rays affect the skin, and the skin produces more melanin, making the skin darker.

Veena

Main Trick/Hint: Now, the word for veena is hospital/healthy.

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

1. S. Balachander

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked – Tata Vadya)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (1982), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Self-taught (Unique style).
• Nicknames/titles: “Veena Balachander.”
• Recent news/current affairs: His rare recordings have been digitally remastered and re-released in 2025 to preserve his unique “Gayaki” (vocal) style of playing.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was a multifaceted genius—a filmmaker, actor, and musician. He is credited with introducing a style that could mimic the human voice on the Veena.
• Trick/Hint: “Bala” is a shortcut form of “Bagala” in Telugu, which means not feeling good. When we don’t feel good, we go to the hospital, so remember it like this.

2. Jayanthi Kumaresh

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu / Karnataka.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kalaimamani.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Padmavathy Ananthagopalan; Lalgudi Jayaraman (Uncle).
• Nicknames/titles: “Veena Virtuoso.”
• Recent news/current affairs: In 2025-26, she has been leading the “CUPPA” (Carnatic Music Understanding for People) initiative to spread musical literacy globally.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: She is the niece of legendary violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman. She is a pioneer in collaborative music, frequently performing in “Jugalbandi” with Hindustani and Western musicians.
• Trick/Hint: “Jayanthi” can be remembered as “Jayam,” which means success, and we pray for the success of an operation, so remember it like that.

3. Chitti Babu

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Andhra Pradesh (Born in Kakinada).
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Kalaimamani, State Award of Andhra Pradesh.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Emani Sankara Sastry.
• Nicknames/titles: “Veena Gana Praveena.”
• Recent news/current affairs: His birth anniversary is celebrated as a major festival in Chennai to honor his “shimmering” and romantic tone on the Veena.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was known for a distinct “shimmering” sound and was one of the first to give the Veena a wider popular appeal through his themed albums like Musings of a Musician.
• Trick/Hint: In the movie Rangasthalam, the hero’s name is Chitti Babu. In the starting scene, he takes care of a person in the hospital, so remember it like this.

4. Emani Sankara Sastry

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Andhra Pradesh.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Padma Shri (1973), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Emani Achyuta Rama Sastry (Father).
• Nicknames/titles: Master of the “Andhra Style.”
• Recent news/current affairs: His archival recordings are often used by All India Radio (AIR) to demonstrate the “Vainika” tradition of South India.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He served as the Chief Producer of Music for All India Radio and Director of the National Orchestra (Vadya Vrinda).
• Trick/Hint: “Kara” sounds like “kira.” When you eat “kira” daily, you stay healthy and usually avoid the hospital because of good health.

5. Doraiswamy Iyengar

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Karnataka (Mysore).
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (1975), Sangeetha Kalanidhi.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Veena Venkatagiriyappa; Mysore Style.
• Nicknames/titles: “The Mysore Maestro.”
• Recent news/current affairs: His birth centenary (celebrated recently) highlighted the “Mysore Style” which emphasizes the use of fingers over the plectrum for a softer sound.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was the court musician of the Mysore Palace and was known for maintaining the traditional purity of the instrument without electronic amplification.
• Trick/Hint: People compare doctors to God, like “Swamy.”

6. E. Gayathri

• Name of the musical instrument: Saraswati Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Tamil Nadu.
• Classical or folk category: Carnatic Classical
• Important awards won: Kalaimamani, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Kamala Aswathama (Mother).
• Nicknames/titles: “Veena Gayathri.”
• Recent news/current affairs: She made history as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: She was a child prodigy who began performing at age 9. She is known for her immense speed and command over the instrument.
• Trick/Hint: “Gayam” means wound, and at that time you can go to the hospital for treatment.

7. Asad Ali Khan

• Name of the musical instrument: Rudra Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Bowed/Plucked – Dhrupad style)
• State associated: Delhi / Rajasthan.
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical (Dhrupad)
• Important awards won: Padma Bhushan (2008), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Sadiq Ali Khan; Khandarbani style.
• Nicknames/titles: The “Last Guardian of Rudra Veena.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Following his death, his style is preserved by a very small group of disciples, often cited as a “dying art” that needs protection.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was the last great master of the Rudra Veena in the Khandarbani tradition. Unlike the Saraswati Veena, the Rudra Veena has two large gourds and is played in the Dhrupad style.
• Trick/Hint: “Sad” is in “Asad.” If you are sad, you can go to the hospital for treatment and get cured. Remember it like this.

8. Bahauddin Dagar

• Name of the musical instrument: Rudra Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Plucked)
• State associated: Maharashtra / Rajasthan.
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical (Dhrupad)
• Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Father); Dagarbani tradition.
• Nicknames/titles: Successor of the Dagar lineage.
• Recent news/current affairs: He is the leading exponent currently teaching the Rudra Veena at the Dagar Dhrupad Gurukul near Mumbai.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is famous for playing the custom-designed large Rudra Veena developed by his father, which has a deeper, more resonant bass sound.
• Trick/Hint: If someone hits you, there will be a wound, so you should go for treatment.

9. Gopal Krishan

• Name of the musical instrument: Vichitra Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Played with a glass slide)
• State associated: Delhi.
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
• Important awards won: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Nand Kishore; Banaras influence.
• Recent news/current affairs: His technical notes on the Vichitra Veena are considered the primary guide for modern players of this rare instrument.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He was a master of the Vichitra Veena, which is a fretless instrument played using a round glass slide (similar to a slide guitar).
• Trick/Hint: “Pal” in “Gopal” means milk, and if you drink milk, you will be healthy.

10. Lalmani Misra

• Name of the musical instrument: Vichitra Veena
• Type of instrument: String (Fretless)
• State associated: Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi).
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
• Important awards won: State awards and academic honors.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Mehndi Hussain Khan.
• Nicknames/titles: A legendary researcher and musicologist.
• Recent news/current affairs: His book Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya remains the most authoritative text on Indian musical instruments for exam aspirants.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is credited with reviving the Vichitra Veena and for inventing the “Misrabani” style of playing. He was a Professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
• Trick/Hint: Nowadays, we have to spend a lot of money on hospitals.

Santoor

Main Trick/Hint: Now, the word for santoor is “Santoor soap.”

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

1. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

• Name of the musical instrument: Santoor
• Type of instrument: String (Struck Zither – Tata Vadya)
• State associated: Jammu & Kashmir
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical (formerly Folk)
• Important awards won: Padma Vibhushan (2001), Padma Bhushan (1991), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1986).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma (his father).
• Nicknames/titles: “The King of Santoor.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Since his passing in 2022, numerous tributes and national music festivals have been dedicated to his legacy as the man who single-handedly elevated the Santoor to the global classical stage.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is credited with modifying the 100-stringed folk instrument of Kashmir to make it capable of playing Indian Classical ragas. He is also famous for the “Shiv-Hari” musical duo with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, composing music for iconic Bollywood films like Silsila, Chandni, and Lamhe.
• Trick/Hint: Now, “mar” in “Kumar” means fight in Hindi. We bathe with soap because it fights bacteria.

2. Pandit Bhajan Sopori

• Name of the musical instrument: Santoor
• Type of instrument: String (Struck Zither)
• State associated: Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar).
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical & Sufiana Mausiqi
• Important awards won: Padma Shri (2004), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1992), Baba Allaudin Khan Puraskar.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Sufiana Gharana (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts).
• Nicknames/titles: “Saint of Santoor”; “Cultural Ambassador of Kashmir.”
• Recent news/current affairs: Following his passing in 2022, his work in using music as a healing tool in conflict zones has been widely documented in national archives.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He belonged to the Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir. He was a versatile composer who composed over 6,000 songs in various languages. He is often cited for his unique style that blended the traditional Sufiana style with Hindustani classical technicalities.
• Trick/Hint: “Sop” in “sopari” sounds like “soap,” so you can remember it like this.

3. Rahul Sharma

• Name of the musical instrument: Santoor
• Type of instrument: String (Struck Zither)
• State associated: Jammu & Kashmir / Maharashtra.
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical & World Fusion
• Important awards won: Bollywood Music Award (Best Debut), various youth cultural honors.
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (his father).
• Nicknames/titles: The Global Face of Modern Santoor.
• Recent news/current affairs: He has been a prominent performer in the 2025-26 international festival circuit, notably collaborating with global artists to bring the Santoor into New Age and Electronic music genres.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He has successfully bridged the gap between classical and commercial music, collaborating with international stars like pianist Richard Clayderman and saxophonist Kenny G.
• Trick/Hint: “Hul” in “Rahul” sounds like “hool,” like “cool.” When we bathe with soap, we get a cool, refreshing feeling.

4. Abhay Rustum Sopori

• Name of the musical instrument: Santoor
• Type of instrument: String (Struck Zither)
• State associated: Jammu & Kashmir.
• Classical or folk category: Hindustani Classical
• Important awards won: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, J&K State Award (Youngest recipient).
• Guru or musical tradition/gharana: Pandit Bhajan Sopori (his father).
• Nicknames/titles: The “Young Maestro” of the Sopori lineage.
• Recent news/current affairs: Actively leads the SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts) and is frequently involved in government initiatives to promote Kashmiri youth talent in the arts.
• Important facts commonly asked in exams: He is recognized for his technical innovation of the Santoor, including the “Sopori-Baaj” style which allows for better resonance. He is one of the youngest musicians to have a classical album released internationally.
• Trick/Hint: “Sop” in “sopari” sounds like “soap,” so you can remember it like this.