From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Colonial Cousins
Colonial Cousins
Colonial Cousins Debut album
Origin New Delhi, India In October 1996, under Magnasound Label, the duo re-
leased their debut album self-titled Colonial Cousins. The
Genres Pop, rock, soundtrack
album broke all records including hitting platinum sales
Years active 1992–present in India. The duo also won the MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice
Award and then later on bagged the US Billboard View-
Members
er’s Choice Award too.[2] The song "Krishna" won the
Hariharan Star Videocon Award for Best Music Video.[3] The excep-
Leslie Lewis tional Indian and Western music fusion generated a new
genre of music and won hearts of millions of music lovers
Colonial Cousins is a band formed by Indian duo com- worldwide.
posed of singer Hariharan and singer-composer Leslie Their debut album opened up the doors for Indian
Lewis. They also have a largely successful career as solo sounds to be used in western sounding songs. The style is
artists as well. Their unique brand of music fused Indian essentially fusion, with a lot of songs opening with recog-
and Western musical genres instantly won the hearts of nisable Hindustani or Carnatic ragas and then segueing
young and old alike.[1] The album hit platinum in sales into a more pop style. A further cachet to the album is
in India alone and consistently busted the Indian music that the musicians who worked on it range from Pandit
charts in 1996. Award upon award was piled on the duo, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, winner of a Grammy Award for his
notably the MTV Asia Viewers’ Choice Award, 1996, and invention of the 14-stringed guitar, to sessions musicians
the US Billboard’s Viewers’ Award, 1996. On 19 November who have worked with the likes of Madonna, Boy Ge-
1998, the Colonial Cousins released their second album, orge, Annie Lennox and other big names in the Western
The Way We Do It. They also released their third album world. It was the first Indian act to be featured on MTV
Aatma on January 1, 2001. They have scored two Tamil Unplugged.[2]
films, Modhi Vilayadu (2009) and Chikku Bukku (2010). The album had two major hit singles "Krishna" and
"Sa Ni Dha Pa" ("Never Know the Reason") for both of
History which their music videos were repeatedly played on mu-
sic channels.
Formation
The Way We Do It
It was during Lewis’s jingles career that the idea of Colo-
nial Cousins was conceived. Lezz had called in Hariharan The first Colonial Cousins album was a tour de force. On
to sing a jingle for him one evening in 1992. The lyrics for November 19, 1998, their second album, a sophomore ef-
the jingle were late coming in. The restless Lezz began fort, The Way We Do It, was a continuation of, and a de-
crooning something while strumming on his guitar, Hari parture from, that first effort. Lyrically low-key, musical-
felt inspired to jam with an alaap, and the result: the ly rich and groove-ridden, this album saw Hari and Lezz
seamless fusion of Eastern and Western sounds that has establish themselves as India’s premier fusion artists.
become the quintessential characteristic of the Colonial The album was a continuation in musical terms to the
Cousins. extent that Lezz and Hari had done what they do best in-
When Hariharan and Leslie Lewis formed Colonial dividually, and fused it into a format that enriches and
Cousins, little did they realise that their foray into popu- complements each other. That said, the album was also a
lar vocal fusion would make them the hottest act in town. departure sound-wise from their eponymous first album.
Being a ghazal singer in the Indian music industry for While that has a softer sound to it, their second album
over two decades, Hariharan is well versed in Carnatic was edgier and groovier.
and Hindustani music. Besides releasing several ghazal The album has some successful singles like the title
albums, Hariharan has also lent his voice to many Hindi track "Way We Do It With You". Srinivas playing on it,
and Tamil films, and ended up winning several awards "Dekhoon Main Jahan" penned by talented lyricist Javed
including the National Award as Best Singer for his song Akhtar, "No Longer Mine" and "Lady".
"Mere Dushman Mere Bhai" from the film Border.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Colonial Cousins
Aatma • Modhi Vilayadu (2009)
• Chikku Bukku (2010)
After two-and-a-half years in hibernation, Indipop fusion
band Colonial Cousins, sprung into action with their
third album Aatma. Released in April 2001, under the Awards and achievements
Sony label, the nine-track album was a delectable fusion
• 1997: MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award for Colonial
of Indian vocals and contemporary instrumentation. Be-
Cousins
sides being busy in playback singing Hariharan had cut
• US Billboard Viewer’s Choice Award
a ghazal album Kaash the previous year, while Lewis has
been busy composing jingles and producing music.
Hariharan, an exponent of Carnatic music trained in References
Hindustani gayaki under the tutelage of Padamshree Us- [1] "Harmonious synthesis". The Hindu. 2003-01-23.
tad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, displays vocal skills in his rich http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/
baritone in songs like “Guiding Star”, “Mata Pita” and 01/21/stories/2003012100350200.htm.
"Dheem Dheem Dhirena". [2] ^ "Colonial Cousins to regale Bangaloreans". The
Lewis, on the other hand, chips in with the pop el- Hindu. 2004-09-23. http://www.hinduonnet.com/
ement. While the English lyrics Lewis sings have depth thehindu/thscrip/
and meaning, his vocals are delightfully sweet at places. print.pl?file=2004092312750200.htm&date=2004/
One can easily detect a conscious attempt on his part to 09/23/&prd=thlf&.
infuse his singing with emotion. Still, the saving grace of [3] "Screen Videocon Award Winners". Screen India.
“Aatma” is the emphatic presence of Hariharan. 1997-01-23. http://www.screenindia.com/old/
There is also a song "I Love You Girl" which Hariha- jan23/films2.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
ran has dedicated to his daughter Divya. Its title "I love [4] "Colonial Cousins’ debut in Tamil". The Hindu.
you girl", for Divya when "I’m Gone" says everything. 2009-07-25. http://www.hinduonnet.com/
In Aatma, they have got back to square one and incor- thehindu/holnus/009200907250331.htm.
porated the same sounds and style that music buffs have [5] "Chikku Bukku music and trailer released".
come to identify with them. Oneindia.in. 24 August 2010.
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/
Modhi Vilayadu exclusive/2010/chikku-bukku-audio-
In 2009, the Colonial Cousins made a debut as music com- released-240810.html.
posers for Tamil film Modhi Vilayadu directed by Saran.
The director of the film required a new trend of music
and so roped in the Indipop duo thus opening doors for
External links
them to the Tamil Film Industry.[4] • Official Blog site
• Colonial Cousins catch the aatma of Indipop fusion
Chikku Bukku [1]
Colonial Cousins scored their second soundtrack for the • The Post “Colonial” Hariharan [2]
film Chikku Bukku (2010). Its audio was released on 13 Au-
gust.[5]
Discography
• Colonial Cousins (1996)
• The Way We Do It (1998)
• Aatma (2001)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_Cousins&oldid=474571768"
Categories:
• Living people
• Indian singers
• Indian composers
• Indian pop singers
• Musical duos
• Tamil film score composers
• Indian film score composers
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Colonial Cousins
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