Carnatic and Hindustani music has a rich and storied history that goes back many centuries.

Sri. Purandara Dasa, the father of Carnatic Music, Sri. Venkatamakin, and Sri. Govindacharya, introduced some the core concepts of Carnatic Music such as Swara, Raaga, and Tala in the mid-15th Century. While Carnatic music flourished under the patronage of the Kings of Vijayanagara, Travancore, Tanjore, and Mysore, it is now patronized by the general public that has taken a keen interest in this art form through public performances and Sabhas.

Hindustani music places more emphasis on improvisation and exploring all aspects of a raga, while Carnatic music is primarily composition-based. The central notion in both these systems is that of a melodic mode or raga, sung to a rhythmic cycle or tala. These principles were refined in the musical treatises Natya Shastra, by Bharata (2nd–3rd century CE), and by Dattilam (probably 3rd–4th century CE). These melodic systems were fused with ideas from Persian music, particularly through the influence of Sufi composers like Amir Khusro, and later in the Mughal courts. Noted composers such as Tansen flourished, along with religious groups like the Vaishnavites.In modern times, the government-run All India Radio, Bangladesh Betar and Radio Pakistan helped to bring the artists to public attention, countering the loss of the patronage system.