‘Cousins’ back in the saddles
It’s been a long time since the tunes of popular Indian duo ‘Colonial Cousins’ hit the music world. And, music lovers are eagerly awaiting the Colonial Cousins back in action after a long silence.
Sri Lankan music lovers can remember the first and the only tour of Colonial Cousins to Colombo in September 1997, when they were at the peak.
And, music lovers are eagerly awaiting the Colonial Cousins back in Tamil to weave their magic. But, that looks like an eternity ago as the duo seem to be busy with work of their own.
Colonial Cousins is an Indian duo, formed by singer Hariharan and singer-composer Lesle Lewis, who also have successful solo careers. Their eponymous first album hit platinum in sales in India alone and consistently headed the Indian music charts in 1996. The duo has received numerous awards, notably the MTV Asia Viewers’ Choice Award, 1996, and the US Billboard’s Viewers’ Award, 1996. On 19 November 1998, the Colonial Cousins released their second album, The Way We Do It. They also released their third album Aatma on 1 January 2001. They have scored two Tamil films, Modhi Vilayadu (2009), Chikku Bukku (2010). Their fourth album Once More was released in 2012. Their brand of mature adult contemporary pop has struck a chord with many Lankans who have a penchant for ballads and music of the mellower kind.
Now they are back in action in India, planning a comeback album in the coming months. According to the reports in Indian print media, Colonial Cousins are now working on their latest album to be released soon.
Hariharan was recently in Kolkata to complete the shoot of a music project that he has developed with Bickram Ghosh and the videos for which are being directed by Arindam Sil. ‘I kept myself busy with masterclasses in the lockdown and even started working on this album, Ishq, with Bickram during that time. There is another album that I’m doing with my elder son, Akshay. He is a music producer and big electronics. So yes, I’ve been working a lot lately’ said Hariharan to ‘The Times of India’, when they did an interview on Kolkata music project. When asked how much he misses live music concerts due to the pandemic, he said ‘I have done so many live gigs in my life that I’m not really missing it’. ‘We did a few online concerts too, I mean digital concerts, but now I am concentrating on my new album. The music will be fusion – something that Colonial is known for.’ he added.