At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Indian musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain’s fusion band, ‘Shakti’, won the prestigious award for ‘Best Global Music Album’ on Monday for their latest album ‘This Moment’. The Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles in 2024.

The Grammys shared a picture on their official Twitter account where Mahadevan and band member, Ganesh Rajagopalan, can be seen receiving the award on stage. In their post, the Grammys congratulated the band, saying, “Congrats Best Global Music Album winner – ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs.”

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

The album ‘This Moment’, which was released in June 2020, features eight songs created by John McLaughlin (guitar synth), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan (vocalist), V Selvaganesh (percussionist), and Ganesh Rajagopalan (violinist). The band was nominated for the Grammy alongside artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido.

In addition to the ‘Best Global Music Album’ award, Zakir Hussain also won the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ Grammy for his contribution to ‘Pashto’ along with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia, a virtuoso flute player. Hussain won three Grammys that night, while Chaurasia won two.

Nominations for the Global Music Performance

The talented musicians Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia received the prestigious award for Best Global Music Performance for their album Pashto. The album features a fusion of various musical styles, including jazz, classical, and traditional Indian music, showcasing the virtuosity of the musicians and their exceptional teamwork.

The competition for the award was fierce, with the group facing a unique collaboration that included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Indian-American singers Falu and Gaurav Shah. The collaboration resulted in an inspiring song called Abundance in Millets, which was released in June 2023 as part of the celebration of the International Year of Millets. The song highlights the health benefits of millets and promotes their consumption.

Despite the tough competition, the Pashto album stood out for its extraordinary musical synergy and individual talent. Winning the award was a significant achievement for the band, and it was a testament to their dedication and hard work. The award not only recognizes the band’s talent but also acknowledges the importance of global collaboration and cultural exchange through music.

The category for Best Global Music Performance had an impressive list of nominees, including well-known artists such as Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, Burna Boy, Davido, and Silvana Estrada.

In addition, the quartet also won in the category of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for their album “As We Speak”, beating out other contenders such as House Of Waters, Bob James, Julian Lage, and Ben Wendel. This win attests to the group’s prowess in contemporary instrumental recordings.

By securing this dual victory, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia have etched their names in the Grammy history books, reaffirming their status as musical maestros whose contributions resonate across borders and genres.

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