Never knew that Carnatic stuff, so thanks for that.
I recommend a good long listen to Indian classical music if anyone is unfamiliar with it, as it is a very different approach from the Western style but it can be really beautiful. It is embedded in an ancient and complicated culture. These things can give you a fresh perspective on our music and culture. For instance, finding that music can have complexity, depth and significance when it's played over a drone will surprise someone steeped in counterpoint and harmony. Also, the freshness of each performance tends to be impressive. The ragas, or scales (it doesn't translate well), have their own "colours" and "flavours", traditionally appropriate to certain times of day.
When I began to study the sitar, I quickly discovered that the necessary dedication was way beyond me, so I remained a listener. It's amazing stuff, sensual, spiritual and exhilarating, and it goes as deep as you like.

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"Music is a social act of communication among people, a gesture of friendship, the strongest there is."
- Malcolm Arnold.