The Bard famously wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.” Music, we were told, transcends geographical borders, narrowness, and bigotry. At a time when fanaticism, anti-poor ideologies, and hatred are stoking passions and blinding people across the globe, the Grammy Awards announced 4 February sends across a powerful message that global collaboration can bring people together in a bond of enthralling music and love. It is a glorious tribute to India that its ace musicians, including tabla wizard Zakir Hussain and singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan share the greatest honours with musicians of international stature. The fusion band of Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain clinched the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for their latest release, “This Moment.” The group also features guitarist John McLaughlin, percussionist V Selvaganesh and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan. Zakir Hussain became the cynosure of all eyes when he also received the Best Global Music Performance Grammy for his contribution to “Pashto,” where he collaborated with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia. He was up against formidable competition, including a unique collaboration between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Falu and Gaurav. The latter two had composed a music based on Modi’s global campaign for consumption of millets.
“This Moment” features eight songs created by John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V Selvaganesh and Ganesh Rajagopalan. Zakir Hussain created history by winning three Grammys in one night, while flutist Rakesh Chaurasia won two. This is such an incredible feat that the music community had no hesitation in declaring that India is shining in every direction. Two-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, who attended the awards ceremony, called 2024 “the year of India at the Grammys.”
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This reminds us of a time when many pretty Indian girls swept international beauty pageants at a time when global beauty brands were vying for the huge Indian market. Sushmita Sen & Aishwarya Rai grabbed international headlines by winning Miss Universe and Miss World respectively in the same year in 1994. Diana Hayden then won Miss World in 1997 followed by Yukta Mookhey in 1999. Then again, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra & Dia Mirza created history by winning the titles of Miss Universe, Miss World & Miss Asia Pacific in the 2000 competitions. Most recently, Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe in 2021. It was not as if our girls had been ugly earlier and all of a sudden turned pretty to win those awards or that now they have again turned unattractive. Indian girls, like our musicians, were always deserving and beautiful. It was the global cosmetic companies at play earlier and now again India is being boosted for commercial exploitation by international companies. Just like the presence of an Indian actor or plotline in an international movie boosts viewership from India, similarly, music collaborations with Indian musicians are expected to increase consumption in the Indian market. In fact, the highest subscribed channel on YouTube is Indian as well.
The beauty awards earlier and the music awards of present times seem to be simple and successful tools to reach the shores of the Indian market where much wealth can be garnered.
