Suno gaur se duniya walo… sabse aage honge hindustani ! Indian artists achieved great success at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, winning a total of six Grammys. Out of these, three were won by the renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain. The ceremony took place on February 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the fourth year in a row.
Hussain, along with Shankar Mahadevan, won the Best Global Music Album for their fusion band Shakti’s album “This Moment”. This was a proud moment for India as their album beat out tough competition from African, Caribbean, and Peruvian musicians. The album, which features eight songs, was created by a talented group of artists including John McLaughlin, V Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan.
After a gap of 46 years, Shakti released “This Moment” on June 30 last year, their first studio album since 1977’s “Natural Elements”. This was a momentous occasion for Indian artists, as it marked their fifth win in this category (previously known as Best World Music Album). The last Indian artist to win in this category was Ravi Shankar in 2013 for his album “The Living Room Sessions Pt. 1”. While this was Shankar Mahadevan’s first Grammy win, it was not Hussain’s first rodeo. He had previously won in the same category in 1991 for “Planet Drum” and in 1996 for “Raga Aberi”.
Aside from the Best Global Music Album, Indian artists also won in the category of Best Global Music Performance for the song “Pashto”. This song features Zakir Hussain, along with Indian flautist Rakesh Chaurasia (who won two Grammys this year), and American musicians Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. Other Indian-inspired songs nominated in this category were “Abundance in Millets” by Falu, featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and “Shadow Forces” by Arooj Aftab and Vijay Iyer. The album “As We Speak”, which includes “Pashto”, won the award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. It features twelve songs by Zakir Hussain, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, and showcases a beautiful blend of Indian and Western musical elements.
India is immensely proud of Zakir Hussain’s achievements at the Grammy Awards. His talent and dedication have brought recognition and honor to the country. Along with his fellow Indian artists, he has displayed the richness and diversity of Indian music on a global platform. His multiple Grammy wins over the years showcase his mastery of the tabla and his ability to collaborate with artists from different backgrounds. India is grateful for his contributions to the world of music and looks forward to more successes in the future.
