Music has always been central to Indian Jewish religious and community life. Each of the major Jewish communities of India — the Bene Israel, the Cochin Jews, and the Baghdadi Jews — developed distinctive musical traditions that reflect both their Jewish heritage and their deep roots in the musical culture of India. From the ancient piyyutim of Kerala to the Bollywood film scores of Mumbai, Indian Jews have been making music for thousands of years.
The Bene Israel Musical Tradition
The Bene Israel of Maharashtra developed a rich musical culture centered on the synagogue and the community celebration. Their Shabbat and holiday prayers are sung to melodies that blend Sephardic Jewish cantorial traditions with the melodic sensibility of Maharashtra, creating a sound that is distinctly Indian Jewish. The Malida ceremony, performed to honor the Prophet Elijah, always includes communal singing in Judeo-Marathi. The songs of the Malida have been passed down orally for generations and represent some of the oldest surviving examples of Judeo-Marathi literary culture.
The Cochin Piyyutim Tradition
The Cochin Jewish community is internationally recognized for the beauty and distinctiveness of its piyyutim (sacred songs). These liturgical poems, sung in Hebrew and Judeo-Malayalam to melodies derived from Kerala classical music, represent a unique synthesis of Jewish and South Indian musical culture. Cochin Jewish women maintained a separate tradition of Hebrew and Judeo-Malayalam songs for home celebrations, wedding ceremonies, and life-cycle events. This women’s musical tradition was passed from mother to daughter for centuries and is now documented by ethnomusicologists.
Baghdadi Jewish Music
The Baghdadi Jews brought the rich musical tradition of Jewish Iraq and the Arab world to India. Iraqi Jewish liturgical music — characterized by its ornate melodic lines, distinctive maqam (musical mode) system, and connection to Arabic classical music — was maintained by Baghdadi synagogues in Calcutta and Bombay. At the same time, Baghdadi Jews were patrons of Western classical music and contributed to the musical culture of colonial India by supporting orchestras, music schools, and concert halls.
Indian Jews in Bollywood
Several Indian Jewish musicians and composers have made major contributions to Hindi film music. The Bollywood connection runs deep: some of the most beloved film composers of the golden age of Hindi cinema had Jewish heritage, though this history is not widely known. Composers, music directors, and performers of Bene Israel and Baghdadi Jewish background worked in the film industry from its earliest days, bringing their musical training and sensibility to the scores of classic Indian films.
Contemporary Indian Jewish Music
In Israel, where the majority of Indian Jews now live, a revival of Indian Jewish music is underway. Younger generations of Israeli-born descendants of Bene Israel and Cochin Jewish families are rediscovering and performing the music of their ancestors. Recording projects, cultural festivals, and academic research have helped bring Indian Jewish music to new audiences. Synagogues established by Indian Jewish immigrant communities in Israel maintain their distinct musical traditions, ensuring that the music survives into the next generation. For more on Indian Jewish music, see the Music section of this website.