Ragas in Bollywood music A microscopic view through multrifractal cross-correlation method

TL;DR

This paper applies a multifractal cross-correlation method to analyze how Hindustani ragas are embedded in Bollywood songs, aiming to understand and quantify the raga's influence on popular music.

Contribution

It introduces the use of Multifractal Detrended Cross correlation Analysis (MFDXA) to quantify raga presence in Bollywood songs, linking classical and popular music analysis.

Findings

High cross-correlation indicates strong raga presence in songs.

Variation in correlation reflects singer’s modulation and raga interpretation.

Method can potentially automate raga detection in film music.

Abstract

Since the start of Indian cinema, a number of films have been made where a particular song is based on a certain raga. These songs have been taking a major role in spreading the essence of classical music to the common people, who have no formal exposure to classical music. In this paper, we look to explore what are the particular features of a certain raga which make it understandable to common people and enrich the song to a great extent. For this, we chose two common ragas of Hindustani classical music, namely "Bhairav" and "Mian ki Malhar" which are known to have widespread application in popular film music. We have taken 3 minute clips of these two ragas from the renderings of two eminent maestros of Hindustani classical music. 3 min clips of ten (10) widely popular songs of Bollywood films were selected for analysis. These were analyzed with the help of a latest non linear analysis technique called Multifractal Detrended Cross correlation Analysis (MFDXA). With this technique, all parts of the Film music and the renderings from the eminent maestros are analyzed to find out a cross correlation coefficient ({\gamma}x) which gives the degree of correlation between these two signals. We hypothesize that the parts which have the highest degree of cross correlation are the parts in which that particular raga is established in the song. Also the variation of cross correlation coefficient in the different parts of the two samples gives a measure of the modulation that is executed by the singer. Thus, in nutshell we try to study scientifically the amount of correlation that exists between the raga and the same raga being utilized in Film music. This will help in generating an automated algorithm through which a na\"ive listener will relish the flavor of a particular raga in a popular film song. The results are discussed in detail.