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Javed Akhtar slams Western influence on Indian music as ‘embarrassment’
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 22 Aug 2026, 11:38 AM
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Poet‑lyricist Javed Akhtar described the growing Western influence on Indian music as an embarrassment, calling for a return to indigenous styles.
Javed Akhtar, veteran poet, lyricist and cultural commentator, told Hindustan Times that the increasing adoption of Western musical elements in contemporary Indian songs is an embarrassment.
He argued that reliance on foreign genres and production techniques dilutes the country's rich musical heritage and discourages young artists from exploring indigenous ragas and folk traditions.
Akhtar urged musicians, composers and industry stakeholders to revive native sounds and prioritize authenticity, suggesting that a stronger focus on Indian melodic structures could restore the distinct identity of the nation's music.
He argued that reliance on foreign genres and production techniques dilutes the country's rich musical heritage and discourages young artists from exploring indigenous ragas and folk traditions.
Akhtar urged musicians, composers and industry stakeholders to revive native sounds and prioritize authenticity, suggesting that a stronger focus on Indian melodic structures could restore the distinct identity of the nation's music.