Mumbai, July 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Music composer Leslee Lewis and veteran playback singer Hariharan have expressed pride after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the vinyl edition of their iconic album Colonial Cousins to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his official visit to Australia.
Reacting to the gesture, Leslee Lewis described it as a recognition of the album’s lasting cultural significance.
“We created the music because we loved it. If the Prime Minister of India is presenting it as a gift to another country’s leader, it means our culture is being shared with the world,” Lewis said while speaking to IANS.
Released three decades ago, Colonial Cousins brought together Hariharan and Leslee Lewis in a pioneering fusion of Indian classical music with Western pop, rock and acoustic influences. The album became a landmark in Indian contemporary music and continues to enjoy enduring popularity.
Hariharan said the recognition reaffirmed the album’s timeless appeal.
“For it to remain so relevant even after 30 years gives you a real boost,” he said.
During his visit to Australia, Prime Minister Modi presented Albanese with a curated collection of gifts showcasing India’s cultural heritage and agricultural excellence. Along with the Colonial Cousins vinyl, he gifted an Indian Premium Coffee Box featuring specialty coffees sourced from leading coffee-growing regions across the country.
The coffee collection highlights the diversity of Indian coffee, with varieties produced through washed, natural and honey processing methods. It also reflects the country’s growing emphasis on quality, sustainability and value addition while recognising the contribution of Indian coffee growers, processors and roasters.
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