Shankar Mahadevan on World Music Day: 'Indian musicians are doing wonders on the world stage'

On World Music Day, one of India's most celebrated composer-singer voices, Shankar Mahadevan, offered a buoyant assessment of where Indian music stands globally — declaring that Indian musicians are 'doing wonders on the world stage.' His comments, shared with Hindustan Times, came as artists across genres, from classical to indie fusion, are finding audiences far beyond South Asia.

Mahadevan, known for his collaborations in the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio and a string of iconic Bollywood scores, has himself been a bridge between Indian classical traditions and contemporary global sounds. His perspective carries weight precisely because he has witnessed — and participated in — this evolution over three decades.

The last few years have seen Indian musicians gain traction in ways previously unimaginable: AR Rahman performing at international arenas, Indian classical musicians headlining European festivals, and independent artists from India topping global Spotify charts. The rise of streaming has been a particular leveller, giving Indian artists access to global listeners without the gatekeeping of traditional Western music labels.

World Music Day, observed every June 21, is an occasion that underscores music's universal appeal. That one of India's foremost composers chose to use the platform to celebrate his peers — rather than just his own work — signals a genuine sense of collective arrival. For Indian music fans, Mahadevan's words are less a boast and more a recognition of something they have long felt: that Indian sound is no longer just an export curiosity, but a genuine force in global music culture.