Delhi-based singer, composer, and producer Siddhant Bhatia has scored a prestigious nomination at the 68th Grammy Awards for his ambitious album, Sounds of Kumbha. The album is nominated in the Best Global Music Album category, where Bhatia is up against fellow Indian music heavyweights sitarist-composer Anoushka Shankar and the Shakti Band, led by Shankar Mahadevan.
Bhatia describes the nomination as a “very joyous moment for the entire country,” emphasizing that the recognition is a massive victory for India’s rich culture, tradition, and spirituality.
A Divine Collaboration for Mahakumbh
The multi-collaborative album, which features a staggering assembly of 50 global artists—including previous Grammy winners and nominees—is dedicated entirely to the Mahakumbh held at Prayagraj in January-February 2025.
In an exclusive conversation with HT City, Bhatia explained the significance:
“It showcases our culture, tradition, and heritage – and now the entire world is knowing about it. The nomination and global recognition for the album is a very big win for our spirituality.”
The project was officially commissioned by the Uttar Pradesh Government in collaboration with Discovery 18 and was released on the state government’s channel during the festival.
Capturing Sound in its Natural Habitat
Bhatia detailed the unique methodology behind the project, which blended global and traditional elements:
- Global Roots, Indian Culture: “Rooted in Indian culture, it’s a global album where we have Sanskrit, Hindi, and English,” he said.
- Acoustic Purity: His approach was to capture the environment “in its natural habitat.” This involved recording temple bells, the river, and the unique atmosphere that permeated the spiritually charged festival when it began around Makar Sankranti.
The collaborations themselves are testament to the album’s hybrid nature. Bhatia called the final product a “divine collaboration,” highlighting:
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar singing a shloka on the track Ram Ram.
- Raja Kumari contributing a rap vocal that evokes an ancient Durga mantra.
- Classical performances by Kanika Kapoor and Aditya Gadhvi, alongside international music geniuses like Ron Korb, Jim ‘Kimo’ West (a 2020 Grammy winner), and Madi Das.
Double Nomination Success
Bhatia shares in another success this awards cycle with Indo-American pianist Charu Suri. Suri is a producer on Sounds of Kumbha, while Bhatia served as a producer on Suri’s own Grammy-nominated record, Shayan, which is up for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
“It’s a 2x nomination for us,” Bhatia proudly noted.
A Career Rooted in Tradition and Technology
Siddhant Bhatia’s musical foundation is rich and varied. He is trained in the classical Patiala Gharana tradition, being a disciple of Ustad Jawaad Ali Khan, the grandson of Ustaad Bade Gulam Ali Khan.
Complementing his classical roots, he also holds expertise in the technical side, having pursued audio engineering in Australia and conducted specialized research into healing frequencies.
With 20 years in the industry, Bhatia boasts a formidable career that includes around 54 advertisement awards and four previous Grammy submissions, including the multi-artiste album Ananta in 2016.