Raghav Mehta on ‘Sounds of Kumbha’, the GRAMMY Moment, and India’s Global Musical Voice

As Sounds of Kumbha earns a GRAMMY nomination in the Best Global Music Album category at the 68th GRAMMY Awards 2026 Indian music finds itself at a powerful cultural inflection point One of the key creative forces behind this ambitious project is composer amp producer Raghav Mehta whose work spans cinema advertising and global collaborations In this conversation Mehta reflects on the significance of the nomination the making of Sounds of Kumbha and what this moment means for Indiarsquos evolving musical identity on the world stageQampA1 What was your immediate reaction when you learned that Sounds of Kumbha had received a GRAMMY nominationRaghav MehtaIt felt surreal but also deeply grounding This project was never about chasing awards it was about honouring a living cultural phenomenon The nomination felt less like personal validation and more like global recognition of Indiarsquos spiritual and sonic heritage2 Sounds of Kumbha is rooted in one of humanityrsquos largest gatherings What drew you personally to this projectRaghav MehtaThe Mahakumbha isnrsquot just an event itrsquos an energy field The idea of capturing that through sound through field recordings chants and contemporary arrangements felt like translating something ancient into a language the world could listen to today The collaboration began when Sidhant Bhatia reached out Having worked together on numerous projects over the years there was already a foundation of trust and creative alignment From the outset this was a conversation driven by a common intent to explore the Kumbh as a sonic and spiritual experience3 How did you approach balancing tradition with modern global sound designRaghav MehtaWith restraint and respect The intention was never to modernise for effect but to let ancient elements coexist naturally with contemporary music production There were no genre boundaries imposed on the album it moves fluidly across multiple musical forms and traditions The challenge especially from a music producerrsquos standpoint was ensuring that despite this diversity every piece carried the same underlying soul and intent Binaural soundscapes and global arrangements were used to deepen immersion not override authenticity The process demanded listening more than imposing allowing the source material to lead while holding the album together as a cohesive spiritual experience4 The album features over fifty global artists What was the collaborative process likeRaghav MehtaIt was humbling Artists from different cultures brought their own spiritual and musical vocabularies My role was to create coherence without imposing hierarchy allowing the music to remain plural fluid and honest The scale of collaboration reflected the Kumbh itself diverse collective and unified by intent As the album evolved esteemed producers such as Jim Kimo West Ron Korb Charu Suri Devraj Sanyal and Madi Das brought their own musical sensibilities into the process further shaping the work through layered perspectives The album features over 50 amazing artists and their contributions expanded the albumrsquos sonic language while remaining true to its collective nonhierarchical spirit5 Many describe the album as a form of cultural diplomacy Do you see it that wayRaghav MehtaAbsolutely Music travels where language and policy often canrsquot If this album allows someone in another part of the world to feel the spirit of the Kumbh even for a moment thatrsquos meaningful diplomacy Itrsquos about shared human experience rather than explanation6 How does this GRAMMY moment impact your journey as a composerproducerRaghav MehtaIt reinforces the belief that stories rooted in culture can be globally relevant My journey as a musician has spanned over a decade composing original singles producing songs for mainstream films contributing to larger film scores and leading largescale collaborative projects Alongside this Irsquove worked extensively in advertising creating music for major brands where storytelling has to be immediate emotionally precise and widely resonant This recognition gives me renewed confidence to continue building work that is sincere researchdriven and culturally grounded whether itrsquos a film composition a commercial soundtrack or an independent original release7 What does this recognition mean for Indian music on a global platformRaghav MehtaIt signals readiness both from Indian creators and global audiences Therersquos a growing appetite for work that doesnrsquot dilute its roots to travel internationally Indian music today is not asking for permission itrsquos participating as an equal voice in global cultural conversationsConclusionAs Sounds of Kumbha resonates beyond borders Raghav Mehtarsquos reflections underline a quiet yet decisive shift where Indian music anchored in heritage and shaped by modern craft is finding its place on the world stage With future prospects spanning new collaborations original singles and commercial songs and longform compositions that continue to bridge culture and contemporary sound the GRAMMY nomination marks not just a milestone but a moment of arrival and a foundation for what comes nexthttpsyoutubekY5CQVdT710si_FRLeby9D2hSRC9

Raghav Mehta on ‘Sounds of Kumbha’, the GRAMMY Moment, and India’s Global Musical Voice

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Raghav Mehta on ‘Sounds of Kumbha’, the GRAMMY Moment, and India’s Global Musical Voice

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast