“Music has always been India’s soft power and it is heartening to see an album that celebrated cultural harmony continues to represent our country decades later,” said Hariharan in a statement. He added that he was glad that there was recognition of the power of Indian music as a bridge between cultures.

The album seamlessly blending Hindustani and Carnatic ragas with Western pop, rock, and acoustic elements (Image: Amazon)

PM Modi’s gift also put the focus back on an album that emerged during India’s indipop boom and was one of the defining albums during the vibrant independent music scene of the 90s. It was an interesting time to be a musician in India. After liberalisation, the scope of private and foreign investments had scaled up, paving the way for the entry of foreign broadcasters such as MTV and Channel V in the country. These gave people a taste of contemporary music from around the world, from a range of artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and bands like Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and Michael Learns to Rock. There was an explosion of choices and a talented bunch of artistes grasped it with both hands.

It was the time that gave India Alisha Chinai’s Made in India, Lucky Ali’s Sunoh, Baba Sehgal’s rap experiments, Daler Mehndi’s bhangra-pop and bands such as Euphoria, among others.

This is when Colonial Cousins came about. At the helm of the album were ghazal and playback singer Hariharan and composer and producer Leslie Lewis, who in the album attempted to blend Indian classical music with Western pop, rock and folk to deliver tracks such as Krishna, Indian Rain and Sa ni dha pa, combining Hindustani influences with acoustic guitars, layered harmonies and contemporary production, creating a sound that appealed to both mainstream listeners as well as classical music acolytes. Together, the two artistes also managed to showcase that Indian independent musicians could produce music with international influences without abandoning Indian musical traditions. The duo adopted the name from a colloquial phrase that is often used to describe culturally hybrid or Westernised South Asians in Britain, reflecting the album’s own blend of Indian and Western musical traditions. Hariharan figured this out while sitting in a posh London club with a Parsi friend.

Suanshu Khurana is an award-winning journalist and music critic currently serving as a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is best known for her nuanced writing on Indian culture, with a specific focus on classical music, cinema, and the arts. Expertise & Focus Areas Khurana specializes in the intersection of culture and society. Her beat involves deep-dive reporting on: Indian Classical Music: She is regarded as a definitive voice in documenting the lineages (Gharanas) and evolution of Hindustani classical music. Cinema & Theatre: Her critiques extend beyond reviews to analyze the socio-political narratives within Indian cinema and theater. Cultural Heritage: She frequently profiles legendary artists and unearths stories about India’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Professional Experience At The Indian Express, Khurana is responsible for curating and writing features for the Arts and Culture pages. Her work is characterized by long-form journalism that offers intimate portraits of artists and rigorous analysis of cultural trends. She has been instrumental in bringing the stories of both stalwarts and upcoming artistes to the forefront of mainstream media. Find all stories by Suanshu Khurana here ... Read More

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