Leslee Lewis on PM Modi's diplomatic gift of 'Colonial Cousins' to Australian PM: Music has become fabric of Indian culture
Mumbai, July 25
Music composer Leslee Lewis and veteran playback singer Hariharan have reacted to PM Modi's diplomatic gift of their album 'Colonial Cousins' to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The two spoke with IANS in the city recently, and spoke about the timeless nature of the album. Leslee Lewis said, "I just said, what is this? This is the most amazing piece of music. We just did it because we loved it because your music has become the fabric of Indian culture. Because if your Prime Minister, as a country, is giving it to another country as a gift, it means our culture is giving it to him".
The album brought together Hariharan and Leslie Lewis, blending Indian classical music with Western pop, rock and acoustic influences to create a distinctive sound that resonated with audiences across generations.
Hariharan said, "I mean, for it to be so relevant, even today, after 30 years, you know, that gives you a real boost".
During his official visit to Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a curated selection of gifts celebrating India's rich cultural legacy, artistic traditions and agricultural excellence. Apart from the vinyl edition of the album, PM Modi also gifted an Indian Premium Coffee Box, highlighting the diversity of coffee cultivated across the country's leading coffee-growing regions. It includes carefully chosen varieties with distinctive flavour profiles shaped by variations in geography, altitude and processing techniques, such as washed, natural and honey methods.
The collection represents the progress of India's coffee industry, underscoring its increasing focus on quality, sustainability and value addition. It also honours the efforts of Indian coffee growers, processors and roasters in crafting premium coffees while encouraging environmentally responsible and sustainable cultivation practices.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Australian who loves Indian culture, this is beautiful! Colonial Cousins' "Krishna" still gives me goosebumps. It's wonderful to see music bridging nations. Though I wonder why the coffee was also included - maybe for a morning jam session? 😄
Honestly, I'm thrilled that an album from my college days is getting such global recognition. Colonial Cousins made us feel that Indian music could be cool and mainstream. But let's not forget - there are so many contemporary Indian fusion artists making waves too. Wish the gift also included some AR Rahman or a tabla maestro. Still, a sweet gesture from Modi ji. 👏🎶
Great to see India showcasing its artistic soft power. Colonial Cousins was truly a milestone - their "Sa Ni Dha Pa" album was my introduction to Indian fusion. But the coffee gift? That's a masterstroke! Indian coffee is world-class and often overlooked. As someone who's traveled to Coorg and Chikmagalur, I know the quality. Smart diplomacy combining arts and agriculture. ☕🎸
This is nice but feels a bit like a PR exercise. Don't get me wrong - Colonial Cousins is iconic. But wouldn't a more contemporary artist like Divine or a regional folk group have made a bolder statement? India's music scene is so diverse today. Still, respect to Leslee and Hariharan for their timeless work. The coffee part is actually impressive - highlighting India's specialty coffee revolution. Kya baat hai! ☕
As a millennial who grew
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