Colonial Cousins: The trendsetter of 1990s

(This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2025, wherein 10 posts are published in 15 days. This the third one: Your favourite musical band of the 90s)

When I think about the music of the 1990s, so many bands, singers, and songs come to my mind: both Indian and international. Among the international ones, I remember Backstreet Boys, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and U2. Closer to home, groups like Indian Ocean, Euphoria, and Parikrama.

Hariharan and Leslee

But the band that truly captivated me was Colonial Cousins. I first heard about them from a friend who was always tuned into the latest trends. His enthusiasm was infectious, and before long, I found myself buying their audio cassette, eager to know what the excitement was all about.

REVOLUTIONARY FUSION

Their debut album, released in October 1996, became a sensation. What set Colonial Cousins apart was their bold fusion. They mixed multiple languages (English, Hindi, and even South Indian) with elements of Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, all wrapped in Western pop, rock, and electronic styles.

With Hariharan’s soulful vocals and Leslee Lewis’s masterful genre-mixing, each track often began with traditional ragas and transitioned into pop choruses. Songs such as “Sa Ni Dha Pa” and “Krishna” come to mind.

While Bollywood did occasionally do something innovative, Colonial Cousins was among the first to explore the synergy outside the realm of Hindi cinema. Their songs also perfectly blended with the spirit of a newly liberalised India in the 1990s, when the country was opening up to foreign companies, goods, movies, music, and much more.

THEIR NAME AND ORIGINS

The story of their name is as unique as their music. Hariharan once recalled that during a visit to London, a friend remarked how Londoners and the Indians there could be called “Colonial Cousins,” a reference to the shared colonial history. Hariharan suggested the name to Leslee Lewis, who immediately agreed.

The two met while working on prime-time advertising jingles. Leslee composed the tunes, and Hariharan lent his vocals. During one of their sessions, as they waited for a script, they began an impromptu jam. The magic was good, as indicated by the applause of everyone there. At that moment, they realised they were destined to work together as a band.

Their international impact also became apparent. Hariharan remembers the time at Heathrow airport when a gentleman approached and praised their music.

After two more albums following their debut, the duo took a prolonged break, each pursuing solo careers. They later reunited as digital and TV shows took off giving ample time and space to independent and fusion music again.

TIMELESSNESS VS TODAY'S FUSION

Today's fusion tracks are often tech-heavy, and I feel it's a lot of noise. In contrast, Colonial Cousins has a lot of originality and authenticity. Their songs are truly timeless, not just because of their innovative approach, but also because they dared to tred a new path.

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Judging character by daily habits can be misleading

(This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2025, wherein 10 posts are published in 15 days. This is the first one.)

When I first saw the prompt for this blog post — habits that reflect your personality without you in the picture — I was reminded of what my teachers and elders used to drill into us as children: “Your everyday habits say a lot about who you are. So, make sure you inculcate the habits that show your best side!”

Source: Gemini

You can spot these signs almost everywhere:

• A desk that’s neat as a pin (versus one with papers and books scattered all over).
  
  
• Clothes neatly folded and arranged in the wardrobe (as opposed to some of them lying on a chair, and the rest on one side of the bed).
  
  
• Shoes shining so much you can see your reflection in them (contrasted with shoes bearing muddy stains, lying scattered at the door).

Most of us were told to aim for the first set of habits — the “correct” ones. Those in brackets were to be avoided.

I think that's a bit old-fashioned. Life today is far less about what’s deemed “desirable” and more about what works for each of us, is it not?

A FEW EXAMPLES

Take, for example, the so-called “messy desk”.

Certainly, it might look chaotic and scream “disorganised!” But try asking the owner where a particular book is, and they’ll produce it quicker than you’d expect!

Clutter could well be a sign of creativity, don’t you think? It might show that the person doesn’t like fences, someone who wishes to go that extra length and explore new ideas.

Another example: a person who never cooks their own meals. It’s easy to assume they lack cooking skills. Yet what if they are actually a good cook, but simply do not have the time, and choose convenience over displaying their culinary abilities?

Yet another example: those happy selfies on social media. They give the impression someone is living their best life, always on cloud nine. But the truth could be far removed from that. All those smiles may be just for the camera; a way to escape the day-to-day blues.

THE OBVIOUS ISN'T ALWAYS THE TRUTH

Yes, our daily habits do tell the obvious story. But remember, this is a world where conventions are constantly being challenged; the obvious isn’t always the truth.

So, it’s good to remember that things are not always what they seem on the surface. Sometimes, what feels like a simple clue about someone can turn out to be entirely misleading!

Don't get me wrong; I’m not saying one should be disorganised or choose clutter over order.

Simply, don’t judge too fast!

(The 2nd post will be published on the 27th, Monday.) 

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Seasons in my life

Back in school in Kerala, the teacher taught us the four seasons.

I understood summer and winter, but not spring and autumn. And I didn’t know which one of them came after summer and winter! (Also, I could never get the spelling of autumn right!)

In my home state, we had only three seasons — summer and two monsoons (southwest and northeast). The month of December was neither hot nor rainy, just cold early in the morning!

Tabebuia rosea in Bengaluru.
Photo: K. Murali Kumar/The Hindu

LANGUAGE OF SEASONS

Much later, after my school years, when I developed a love for the English language (and a bit of literature as well), I came across Shelley’s famous poem Ode to the West Wind, the last line of which is the oft-quoted, “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

The English professor’s explanation of the profound meaning of the poem, and more specifically of the last line, not only painted the world in front of me in brighter colours but also settled for good the confusion I had regarding the order of the seasons.

After spending the first 23 years of my life in Kerala, when I went to North India, I learnt what real winter was. I bought my first blanket in Bhopal in 1988 from a Khadi Bhandar for ₹100. He had asked for ₹120, but agreed to give it for ₹100. I still have it, and I still use it. It’s so thick, good, and warm. 

(Khadi Bhandar is a store where hand-spun and hand-woven cloth and cloth products are sold.)

CULTURE AND COLOUR

Seasons have shaped our local culture. Many of our festivals are so intricately tied to seasons. For example, Holi and Vasanth Panchami mark the end of winter and herald the arrival of spring; a time to look ahead to a bright and colourful future.

The best time of the year, as far as the natural beauty of Bengaluru is concerned, is January to March. The famous Tabebuia rosea (Pink Trumpet Trees) and similar species spring into bloom, bathing streets, parks, and neighbourhoods in colours of pink, white, and yellow.

Though in the north, that’s also the time when sweaters and other warm clothes are stacked away and forgotten for the next six months, that’s not exactly the case here in Bengaluru, which has been my place of residence for the past 26 years. The temperature here is almost always pleasant (in comparison to many other cities) but cool wind and rain bring the temperature down so much that we need warm clothes.

SUMMER OR WINTER?

Winter, which comes at the end of a year, is often characterised as a metaphor for everything that is gloomy. There is very little daylight time, with the sun hardly seen.

This post is part of Blogchatter Blog Hop

But I can manage the cold better than heat; and I prefer winter to summer. This is, of course, in the context of India. I don’t know whether my preference would be the same if I were in Europe or Australia, Canada or the US. At least in the places that I have lived, summer has always been more intense and difficult to manage than winter.

The cold season does have several bright spots. The comfort of curling up under the blanket is unrivalled. Any food is too tempting to ignore. The streaming rays of sunshine are a virtual invitation to the outdoors.

SONGS OF THE SEASONS

When you think of seasons, invariably many songs come to mind. There are plenty of them in English, Hindi, and in my native language of Malayalam that celebrate seasons. It’s difficult to choose the best one.

I will go for Thandi Hawayein Lehrake Aaye from the 1951 film Naujawan sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

It is all about cool breeze, moonlight and stars; and youthful longing and laughter. Lyrics are by Sahir Ludhianvi and music by S.D. Burman. It's considered one of the earliest productions of the duo and Sahir's breakthrough into mainstream cinema.

Here it is:

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