On World Music Day (June 21), the veteran producer also pays tribute to the legends who have enriched India’s musical culture

Music has always been a great unifying force in India and has also contributed a great deal to India’s cultural prowess across the globe. Be it classical musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain or playback legends like Talat Mehmood (the first Indian singer to go on foreign concert tours in 1956), Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh and many others who performed in sold out international arenas, Indian music has always enjoyed widespread popularity.

On World Music Day, veteran producer Anand Pandit discusses some of the musical milestones in the Hindi film industry that have also regaled foreign audiences. He says, “Shailendra, Shankar Jaikishan and Mukesh created magic in many Raj Kapoor films but the songs of ‘Awaara’ and ‘Shri 420’ created a sensation in the Soviet Union. Even today, no matter where in the world I travel, I always hear the cadences of Hindi film music.”

Pandit also refers to the significant place music occupies in India’s cultural realm, birthing legendary musicians from Tyagaraja Swami to Mohd Rafi,  A R Rahman, M M Keeravani and many more.

He adds, “This year’s Grammy Awards saw five great musicians from India, including tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, percussionist Selvaganesh Vinayakram, and singer Shankar Mahadevan, all part of the fusion band ‘Shakti’, winning honours. ‘Naatu Naatu’ in period drama ‘RRR’ brought us an Oscar. These achievements are truly a testament to the continuing power and influence of India’s music on the global stage.”