Indian classical music has two major traditions. The North Indian classical music tradition is called Hindustani while the South Indian expression is called Carnatak. The roots of the India classical music are found in the Veda literature and the ancient Natyashastra (Bharat Muni). And in many more Grantham's Indian classical music has two foundational elements, Raga and Tala.
The raga is melodic structure. Tala is time cycle. The raga gives an artist a structure to build the melody, and the Tala provides them with a creative framework for rhythmic improvisation using time. Hindustani music style is mainly found in North India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It exists in four major forms: Dhrupad, Khyal, Tarana, and the semi-classical Thumri.
Khyal is the modern form of Hindustani music, and the term literally means "Thoughts". A raga is a central concept of Indian music, A raga has a given set of notes, on a scale, ordered in melodies with musical motifs.