 "EXCLUSIVE! Shakti's Ganesh Rajagopalan on bagging Grammy Award for This Moment, working with Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain & more")
In the latest edition of Grammys 2024, a history was created, which put India on the global map. Yes, John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, Ganesh Rajagopalan and V. Selvaganesh’s Shakti band won the Best Global Album Award for their first studio album ‘This Moment’.
In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan revisited the special moment when they won the Grammy award and shared special traits of his band members…Edited excerpts from the interview:
The moment when the big announcement happened
We don’t remember, we just remember this moment Shakti. There was so much and there was a huge contingent our own contingent there were about 20-25 people who came for that award function from different parts of the world. So, they were all rooting you know like they were like jumping more than us I mean as you said no like it was it was not not our award it was an award for India like you know so every Indian out there was celebrating and everyone as much as we were doing it we could see that everybody was celebrating as if they won it I mean they won it yes it’s for India.
When that moment happened who was the first person whom you called and you know shared your happiness with?
John ji (John McLaughlin), he was not there at the Grammys. So, we immediately when I went backstage I called him. He was the first one because we wanted to celebrate together, the five of us. So, John ji and then my dad who is my guru also.
You must have got thousands of calls you must have received on that day what was that you know, a special phrase or special word which you know made your day?
It was my wife’s hug which made my day I mean it was special on that day.
On Hindustani Classical Sangeet being limited in India
It is limited very, unfortunately. I think all these kinds of recognition and when classical musicians get this kind of recognition may motivate other people to see that there is an option like that not it’s just not movies all the time. There is also this profession which can take us to the pinnacle of everything so I think it’s all a journey I mean it has taken a dip now but I think it will grow now because everybody on stage they were all classical musicians. Myself, Selvaganesh, Shankar ji (
Shankar Mahadevan
), Zakir Bhai (Hussain) what what else can we say I mean when Zakir Bhai is there he’s the pinnacle of achievement also I mean with
classical music what he has achieved and it’s so wonderful he’s such a big mentor for all of us and see him do it and then we also do quite a few things. I hope that people get inspired or motivated by this and they come forward and do it.
Description of Shakti members
Zakir Hussain: Just bow down and touch his feet. And ask his Aashirwaad all the time and he’s been a mentor and you know he’s been a guide to many of the things go-to person and he’s what he’s more like a guru to me.
Shankar Mahadevan: Shankar sir is full of energy oh so much positivity so much grace in what he does and he’s the voice of the country and he’s always encouraging. So nice to be part great friend in the end.
John McLaughlin: John ji is a miracle man. So, just seeing that he is at the age of 81 the way he plays the way he talks the way he lives. We just hope and pray that we are also kind of you know healthy like him and his blessings are very important for that.
Selvaganesh: He is a brother. Like we have grown together as right from when we were children and we have played together and so is my most trusted friend more than anything else so confident can say.
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