Indian fusion band bags Best Global Music Album at Grammys

Indian fusion band ‘Shakti’ bagged Best Global Music Album for “This Moment” — their first studio release in 46 years — at Sunday’s 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Indian tabla maestro Zakir HussaIn, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and British guitarist John McLaughlin secured the award for their band.

The recently reunited fusion band, once named “Turiyananda Sangit,” was originally founded by McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, and percussionist Vikku Vinayakram in 1973, according to Time magazine. They were soon joined by violinist L. Shankar and the late mridangam maestro Ramnad Raghavan.

The five released three albums before disbanding in 1977; the band briefly launched a spinoff in 1997 called Remember Shakti and would regroup in 2020 with McLaughlin, Hussain, Mahadevan, Selvaganesh, and Rajagopalan.

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This Moment, released on June 30, comprises eight songs by the group. The album won against popular Nigerian musician Burna Boys I Told Them…, Nigerian American singer Davido, global group Bokanté, and Peruvian singer-songwriter Susana Baca.

“Thank you boys. Thank you God, family, friends, and India. We are proud of you India,” Mahadevan said in the group’s award acceptance speech. “Last but not the least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, whom every note of my music is dedicated to you.”

“Thank you everyone, thank you Recording Academy for recognizing us,” Rajagopalan added.

Ricky Kej who is himself a three-time Grammy winner shared Mahadevan’s speech on social media and also appreciated the band for the win.

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Along the video, he wrote in the caption, “Shakit wins Grammys 2024!! Through this album 4 brilliant Indian musicians win Grammys!! Just amazing, India is shining in every direction. Shankar Mahadevan, Selvaganesh Vinayakram, Ganesh Rajagopalan, and Ustad Zakir Hussain won a second along with virtuoso flute player Rakesh Chaurasia. Brilliant!!!!”

Hussain nabbed another win earlier in the night for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his contribution to As We Speak, a Indo-Western jazz project with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Indian flutist Rakesh Chaurasia.

The four won Best Global Music Performance for their song Pashto, making it a big night for Indian talent.

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“It is really a proud moment for me, winning two Grammy Awards for my country,” Chaurasia said.

Noted Indian composer A.R.Rahman posted on X, “It’s raining#GRAMMYs for India. Congrats Grammy winners Ustad @ZakirHtabla (3 Grammys), @Shankar_Live (1st Grammy) and #SelvaGanesh (1st Grammy).”

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shakti on their win, calling the award a “phenomenal success” on X. “Your exceptional talent and dedication to music have won hearts worldwide. India is proud! These achievements are a testament to the hardwork you keep putting in,” he wrote. “It will also inspire the new generation of artists to dream big and excel in music.”