With Guru Randhawa having recently featured on the coveted American media brand Billboard's chart, mid-day looks at other Indian artistes who have preceded him
Ricky Kej
The Indo-American composer's Grammy Award-winning 14th studio album, Winds Of Samsara, a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, Bagged the top spot on Billboard's New Age Albums Chart in August 2014. "The Billboard charts quantify commercial success and the reach of a song or album. While monetary gain is always welcome, being on celebrated chart such as this, helps. It shows us that our music is loved by a large section of people," says Kej. Evidently priding on the fact that his album topped the chart for two weeks, even enjoying another 14 weeks juggling spots within the top 10, he says, "I took two-and-a-half years to create it. Over a hundred musicians were involved in the album. The success on the charts illustrated that it broke cultural and political barriers and reached listeners of every ethnicity."
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra's second single, Exotic, featuring American rapper Pitbull, hopped about on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for 15 weeks, peaking at the 16th position in 2013. It also ranked 12 on the Hot Dance Club Songs. Also, her version of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me, which released in 2014, peaked at No 28 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.
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AR Rahman
Inarguably the Indian composer most familiar with international lists, Rahman made his Billboard debut with Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire, 2008), which also earned him an Oscar in 2009. The song, a collaboration with American bigwig The Pussycat Dolls, bagged the 15th spot on the Top World Albums Chart. Rahman followed this nod with acclaim for his work on Shah Rukh Khan's Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). The title track enjoyed a three-week stay on the same chart, peaking at no 9. Further, his EP, Kadal, bagged the 14th place on the chart in January 2013. He also peaked at no 48 on Billboard's Social 50 list last year.
Arko
Singer Arko Pravo Mukherjee featured on Billboard's Dance Club 50 chart when his single, Reeva, bagged 49th spot last year. It eventually climbed to the 45th position. "The chart is among the oldest and most prestigious ones in America. It was a dream to make it to the list since childhood. The recognition benefits a musician, because you reach a global audience. I'm doing more work in USA, this year, and that has to do with Reeva's performance on that chart. The publishers' point of views change. Your work is respected," he says.
Guru Randhawa
Suit Suit singer Guru Randhawa's December release, Lahore, bagged the 17th and 21st spots, respectively, during its two-week run on the portal's YouTube chart of most trending songs last month. He shared space on the list with international biggies like Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato and Ed Sheeran, among others. "It was my dream to feature on Billboard with my independent music [ventures]. I am overwhelmed," says Randhawa. The number, he added, has all the ingredients — "a contemporary video, upbeat sounds and simple lyrics," he says — to make for a global chartbuster that cuts across age groups.
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