Some gifts transcend protocol—they tell a story.
During his official visit to Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a collector’s edition vinyl of the iconic Colonial Cousins album, paying tribute to one of India’s most celebrated musical partnerships—Hariharan and Leslie Lewis.
Released in the 1990s, Colonial Cousins changed the sound of Indian music forever. By seamlessly blending Indian classical traditions with Western pop, rock and acoustic influences, Hariharan and Leslie Lewis created an album that broke barriers, connected generations and inspired an entirely new era of Indian fusion music.
More than three decades later, the music continues to resonate, making the vinyl not just a collector’s item but a symbol of India’s creative spirit and cultural confidence.
As the world increasingly embraces vinyl as a timeless format, PM Modi’s choice of gift carried a deeper message—that great music never ages, and true art continues to unite people across cultures and borders.
In celebrating Colonial Cousins, the Prime Minister honoured not merely an iconic album, but the extraordinary legacy of Hariharan and Leslie Lewis, whose music proved that tradition and innovation can exist in perfect harmony.
“Some melodies become memories. Others become history. Colonial Cousins became both.”
