Indian food is exotic - yes absolutely.  For some people it may be intimidating when it comes to the preciseness of Indian cooking. 
There are 11 essential spices required to cook the best of indian dishes.  These are Cumin, Black pepper, Turmeric, Nutmeg and mace, Coriander, Cardamom, Mustard seeds, Saffron, Fenugreek, Clove and Cassia bark.  Some of these are grinded and some are used whole.  
The combination of the above basic and essential spices result in the most delicious Indian cuisine.
Understanding the basics of these spices is a must for any chef to use correctly.