A knowledge base and exploratory interface for golden era Indian film music, with emphasis on classical and semi-classical compositions.
Alaap (आलाप) is the slow, meditative opening of a raga performance — a deliberate exploration that reveals the raga's character note by note. This project does the same for an extraordinary body of music that risks fading from cultural memory.
The golden era of Indian film music (roughly late 1940s through the 1970s) produced work under constraints that demanded mastery: single-take analog recordings, live orchestras, composers steeped in classical traditions, and singers who could deliver technically demanding pieces flawlessly under pressure. That ecosystem no longer exists.
Alaap makes this music accessible, discoverable, and understandable — connecting structured knowledge, musical analysis, and contextual appreciation in a way no existing resource does.
- Multi-dimensional search — explore by raag, taal, composer, singer, film, era, or ornamentation
- Rich song and raag profiles — metadata, classical roots, recording context, related works
- Graph-powered discovery — "if you appreciate X, you'll also like Y" recommendations
- Natural language queries — ask questions about the music conversationally
- Guided journeys — curated pathways for newcomers and deep listeners alike
Early development. See docs/ for vision, research, and roadmap.