Mani Kaul (1944-2011) was a film director and music teacher from Jodhpur, British India (modern day India). He attended the television Institute of India (FTII) where he studied under Ritwik Ghatak. Throughout his career he won four Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Movie, a National Film Award for Best Direction, and a National Film Award. He was also the Creative Director at Osian's Connoisseurs of Art film house in Mumbai and taught music in the Netherlands. In 2000, he served as a visiting lecturer at Harvard University, United States.

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (1929-1990) was a Hindustani classical musician from Udaipur, British India (modern day India). He was part of the 19th generation of Dagar family dhrupad musicians. He has been credited with the revival of the rudra vina as a solo concert instrument. During his career, he was awarded the Kalidas Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government and served as a visiting professor at the University of Washington, United States.