"Indian-ness" in the Old and the New

Like much of the Indian music we have listened to in class up to this point, "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai" begins with an instrumental gesture that establishes the tonal center of the piece about to be performed, however, here it is in the form of an arpeggiated minor triad on the vibraphone instead of the two-note tambura drone typical of Indian classical music. Simply put, what makes this song fundamentally different than the Carnatic and Hindustani works we have heard is that it is in fact a "pop song" and not a classical work. The instruments used are all typical Indian instruments (voice, strings, tabla, etc), but the form and style of the song is done in a Western aesthetic. Here we have harmonies that are changing much more rapidly and regularly than in drone-like classical works. The song is essentially a product of the West that has been manipulated to contain aspects of Indian music.
The second song, "Addictive," is a contemporary hip-hop song by R&B artist Truth Hurts that samples the song "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai." Throughout the video, the concept of "Indian-ness" is highly glamor-ized. The dancers wear lavish, colorful costumes with a clear Eastern influence and dance in what seems to be a blend of hip-hop and traditional Indian dance. At the same time, synthesized flutes and other instruments play melodies resembling typical Indian ragas. While it is certainly not a product of India, the artist pays tribute to many aspects of Indian culture and music.