Top 25 Most Famous Indian Singers and Musicians of All Time

These Top 30 Famous Indian singers or musicians are ranked according to Pantheon’s Historical Popularity Index (HPI) of 2022. Pantheon aggregates information about individuals’ online popularity. HPI is currently made of five components: the “age” of a biography’s character (e.g. the classical musician Tansen is more than 400 years old), number of Wikipedia language editions in which the biography has a presence (L), the concentration of the pageviews received by a biography across languages (L*), the stability of pageviews over time (CV), and the number of non-English pageviews received by that biography.

• Read also :
• Top 30 Most Famous Indian People
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• Top 30 Most Famous Indian Rulers

India is a diverse country; thus, it has music fans of all genres with a vast range of music tastes. Moreover, in India, about 216 million music fans use multiple streaming platforms such as Gaana, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Music, Hungama, etc. is it not amazing? So, without any further ado, let’s jump on the list of the top 25 singers or musicians in India that are all-time favorites of Indians.

The Most Famous Indian Singers & Musicians of All Time

The following 25 individuals are the most Famous Indian singers and musicians of all time, according to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) of 2022. The highest HPI is 100, and we have listed people with HPI over 43.28.

Famous singers or musicians in India

25. Jasraj (HPI : 43.28)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Pandit Jasraj is ranked 25th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 43.28, and His biography is available in 18 different languages on Wikipedia.

Pandit Jasraj (28 January 1930 – 17 August 2020) was an Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the Mewati gharana (musical apprenticeship lineage). His musical career spanned 75 years resulting in national and international fame, respect and numerous major awards and accolades.

His legacy includes memorable performances of classical and semi-classical vocal music, classical and devotional music, albums and film soundtracks, innovations in various genres including Haveli Sangeeth and popularizing the Mewati Gharana – a school of thought in Hindustani classical music. Pandit Jasraj taught music to amateur and professional students in India, Europe, Canada and the United States.

 

24. Trilok Gurta (HPI : 43.75)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Trilok Gurtu is ranked 24th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 43.75, and His biography is available in 17 different languages on Wikipedia.

Trilok Gurtu (born 30 October 1951) is an Indian percussionist and composer whose work has blended the music of India with jazz fusion and world music. He has worked with Terje Rypdal, Gary Moore, John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Joe Zawinul, Michel Bisceglia, Bill Laswell, Maria João & Mário Laginha, and Robert Miles.

 

23. KJ Yesudas (HPI : 43.89)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, K. S. Yesudas is ranked 23rd among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 43.89, and His biography is available in 21 different languages on Wikipedia.

Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (born 10 January 1940) is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian music and a cultural icon of Kerala.

Yesudas is estimated to have recorded more than 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Marathi as well as Arabic, English, Latin, and Russian, in a career spanning six decades. He is often referred to as Gaanagandharvan (transl. The Celestial Singer). Yesudas holds the record for singing 11 songs in different languages in a single day.

 

22. Udit Narayan (HPI : 44.94)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Udit Narayan is ranked 22nd among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 44.94, and His biography is available in 37 different languages on Wikipedia.

Udit Narayan (born 1 December 1955) is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured mainly in Hindi films. He has also sung in various other languages including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Malayalam, Assamese, Bagheli and Maithili.

He has won four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards with twenty nominations among many others. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture. As many as 21 of his tracks feature in BBC’s “Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time”. He is one of the most famous playback singers in India.

 

21. Ilaiyaraaja (HPI : 45.03)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Ilaiyaraaja is ranked 21st among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 45.03, and His biography is available in 24 different languages on Wikipedia.

Ilaiyaraaja (born 3 June 1943) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, instrumentalist, lyricist and singer, popular for his works in Indian Cinema, prominently in Tamil & Telugu films.

Reputed to be one of the most prolific Indian composers, in a career spanning over forty-five years, he has composed over 7,000 songs and provided film scores for over 1,000 films, apart from performing in over 20,000 concerts. Ilaiyaraaja is nicknamed “Isaignani” (the musical genius) and often referred to as “Maestro”, the title conferred by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London.

 

20. Usha Mangeshkar (HPI : 45.04)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Usha Mangeshkar is ranked 20th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. Her Historical Popularity Index is 45.04, and Her biography is available in 22 different languages on Wikipedia.

Usha Mangeshkar (born 15 December 1935) is an Indian singer who has recorded many Marathi, Manipuri, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Assamese songs.

She came into the spotlight as a playback singer after singing some devotional songs for the low-budget movie Jai Santoshi Maa (1975), which became an all-time blockbuster. She is the sister of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

 

19. Manna Dey (HPI : 45.15)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Manna Dey is ranked 19th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 45.15, and His biography is available in 31 different languages on Wikipedia.

Manna Dey (1 May 1919 − 24 October 2013) was an internationally acclaimed Indian playback singer, music director, musician and Indian classical vocalist. As a classical vocalist, he belonged to the Bhendibazaar gharana.

He was trained under Ustad Aman Ali Khan. He is considered one of the most versatile and celebrated vocalists of the Hindi film industry. He is one of the most Famous playback singers in India.

 

18. Girija Devi (HPI : 45.78)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Girija Devi is ranked 18th among the most famous Indian musicians of all time. Her Historical Popularity Index is 45.78, and Her biography is available in 26 different languages on Wikipedia.

Girija Devi (8 May 1929 – 24 October 2017) was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas. She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri. She was dubbed as the ‘Queen of Thumri’ for her contribution in the genre.

 

17. Ali Akbar Khan (HPI : 46.24)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Ali Akbar Khan is ranked 17th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 46.24, and His biography is available in 29 different languages on Wikipedia.

Ali Akbar Khan (14 April 1922 – 18 June 2009) was an Indian Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod. Trained as a classical musician and instrumentalist by his father, Allauddin Khan, he also composed numerous classical ragas and film scores. He is one of the most popular musicians from India.

 

16. Hariprasad Chaurasia (HPI : 47.02)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Hariprasad Chaurasia is ranked 16th among the most famous singers in India of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 47.02, and His biography is available in 23 different languages on Wikipedia.

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian music director and classical flautist, who plays the bansuri, in the Hindustani classical tradition.

He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, and Ken Lauber, and has composed music for Indian films. Chaurasia also played on The Beatles’ 1968 B-side “The Inner Light”, which was written by George Harrison.

 

15. Gangabai Hangal (HPI : 47.15)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Gangubai Hangal is ranked 15th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. Her Historical Popularity Index is 47.15, and Her biography is available in 20 different languages on Wikipedia. She is the 4th most famous female Indian singer of all time.

Gangubai Hangal (5 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the khayal genre of Hindustani classical music from Karnataka, who was known for her deep and powerful voice. Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.

 

14. SP Balasubramanyam (HPI : 49.16)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam is ranked 14th among the most famous singers in India of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 49.16, and His biography is available in 34 different languages on Wikipedia.

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020) was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian singers of all time. He predominently worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films and sang in a total of 16 languages.

 

13. SD Burman (HPI : 49.32)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, SD Burman is ranked 13th among the most famous singers or musicians in India of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 49.32, and His biography is available in 20 different languages on Wikipedia.

Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. A member of the Tripura royal family, he started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He later began composing for Hindi movies and became one of the most successful and influential Indian film music composers.

Burman composed the soundtracks for over 100 movies, including Bengali films and Hindi. Apart from being a versatile composer, he also sang songs in the light semi-classical and folk style of Bengal. His son, R. D. Burman, was also a celebrated music composer for Bollywood films.

 

12. Kumar Sanu (HPI : 49.77)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Kumar Sanu is ranked 12th among the most famous singers in India of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 49.77, and His biography is available in 29 different languages on Wikipedia.

Kumar Sanu (born 20 October 1957) is an Indian playback singer. He is known as the King of Melody in Bollywood. He is famous for singing thousands of Bollywood Hindi songs. Apart from Hindi, he has also sung in other languages.

He holds the record for winning five consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer from 1990 to 1994. For his contribution to Indian cinema and music, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 by the Government of India. Many of his tracks feature in BBC’s “Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time”.

 

11. Bhimsen Joshi (HPI : 50.29)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Bhimsen Joshi is ranked 11th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 50.29, and His biography is available in 22 different languages on Wikipedia.

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi (4 February 1922 – 24 January 2011) was one of the greatest Indian vocalists from Karnataka, in the Hindustani classical tradition. He is known for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). Bhimsen Joshi, a legend belongs to the Kirana gharana tradition of Hindustani Classical Music.

 

Top 10 Best Indian Singers and Musicians

10. Bismillah Khan (HPI : 51.15)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Bismillah Khan is ranked 10th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 51.15, and His biography is available in 32 different languages on Wikipedia.

Ustad Bismillah Khan (21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006) was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument. While the shehnai had long held importance as a folk instrument played primarily schooled in traditional ceremonies, Khan is credited with elevating its status and bringing it to the concert stage.

 

9. MS Subbulakshmi (HPI : 51.28)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, MS Subbulakshmi is ranked 9th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. Her Historical Popularity Index is 51.28, and Her biography is available in 29 different languages on Wikipedia. She is the 3rd most famous female Indian singer of all time.

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974 with the citation reading “Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the carnatic tradition of South India. She is one of the Top 10 Best Indian Singers.

 

8. Kishore Kumar (HPI : 51.76)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Kishore Kumar is ranked 8th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 51.76, and His biography is available in 41 different languages on Wikipedia.

Kishore Kumar (4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He was one of the most popular singers in the Indian film industry and from soft numbers to peppy tracks to romantic moods, Kumar sang in different genres but some of his rare compositions which were considered classics were lost in time. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian music. He is one of the most Famous singers in India.

 

7. Mohammed Rafi (HPI : 53.62)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Mohammed Rafi is ranked 7th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 53.62, and His biography is available in 50 different languages on Wikipedia.

Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian film playback singer. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent.

Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice; his songs varied from fast peppy numbers to patriotic songs, sad numbers to highly romantic songs, qawwalis to ghazals and bhajans to classical songs. He is one of the Most popular singers in India.

 

6. Asha Bhosle (HPI : 53.69)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Asha Bhosle is ranked 6th among the most famous Indian singers of all time. Her Historical Popularity Index is 53.69, and Her biography is available in 52 different languages on Wikipedia. She is the second most famous female Indian singer of all time.

Asha Bhosle (born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer and entrepreneur. She is best known for her playback singing in Hindi cinema, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle’s career started in 1943 and has spanned over seven decades.

She has done playback singing for over a thousand movies. In 2006, Asha Bhosle stated that she had sung over 12,000 songs, a figure repeated by several other sources. She is one of the Best Singers in India.

5. Tansen (HPI : 55.69)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Tansen is ranked 5th among the most famous Indian singers or musicians of all time. His Historical Popularity Index is 55.69, and His biography is available in 25 different languages on Wikipedia.

Tansen (c. 1493/1500 – 26 April 1589), also referred to and commonly known as Sangeet Samrat (lit. ’Monarch of Music’) , was a Hindustani classical musician. Born in a Hindu Gaur Brahmin family, he learnt and perfected his art in the northwest region of modern Madhya Pradesh. He began his career and spent most of his adult life in the court and patronage of the Hindu king of Rewa, Raja Ramchandra Singh (r.1555–1592), where Tansen’s musical abilities and studies gained widespread fame.

This reputation brought him to the attention of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who sent messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tansen to join the musicians at the Mughal court. Tansen did not want to go, but Raja Ramchandra Singh encouraged him to gain a wider audience, and sent him along with gifts to Akbar.

In 1562, about the age of 60, the Vaishnava musician Tansen joined the Akbar’s court, and his performances became a subject of many court historians. Singers from India

4. Ram Narayan (HPI : 57.72)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Ram Narayan is ranked fourth among the most famous singers or musicians in India. His Historical Popularity Index is 57.72, and His biography is available in 77 different languages on Wikipedia.

Pandit Ram Narayan (born 25 December 1927) is an Indian musician who popularised the bowed instrument sarangi as a solo concert instrument in Hindustani classical music and became the first internationally successful sarangi player.

Ram Narayan increased the status of the sarangi to that of a modern concert solo instrument, made it known outside of India, and was the first sarangi player with international success. Famous singers in India

3. Lata Mangeshkar (HPI : 64.47)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Lata Mangeshkar is ranked third among the most famous singers or musicians in India. Her Historical Popularity Index is 64.85, and Her biography is available in 73 different languages on Wikipedia. She is the most famous female Indian singer of all time.

Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer, music composer and philanthropist. She is widely considered to have been the greatest and most influential singer in India.

Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning seven decades gained her honorific titles such as the “Queen of Melody”, “Nightingale of India”, and “Voice of the Millennium”. Lata recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, though primarily in Marathi, Hindi, and Bengali.

2. Ravi Shankar (HPI : 64.85)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Ravi Shankar is ranked second among the most famous singers or musicians in India. His Historical Popularity Index is 64.85, and His biography is available in 89 different languages on Wikipedia.

Ravi Shankar (7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world’s best-known export of North Indian classical music in the second half of the 20th century, and influenced many musicians in India and throughout the world. Shankar was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999.

 

1. Amir Khusrow (HPI : 67.67)

According to the Historical Popularity Index (HPI) 2022, Amir Khusrau is ranked first among the most famous singers in India. His Historical Popularity Index is 67.67, and His biography is available in 59 different languages on Wikipedia.

Abu’l Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253 – 1325), better known as Amīr Khusrau, was an Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar who lived under the Delhi Sultanate. He is an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent.

He was a mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, India. He wrote poetry primarily in Persian, but also in Hindavi. A vocabulary in verse, the Ḳhāliq Bārī, containing Arabic, Persian and Hindavi terms is often attributed to him.

Khusrau is sometimes referred to as the “voice of India” or “Parrot of India” (Tuti-e-Hind), and has been called the “father of Urdu literature.” Khusrau is regarded as the “father of qawwali”, and introduced the ghazal style of song into India. Amir Khusrau is the Greatest Indian musician of all time.