A song on Millets featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earned a Grammy Awards nomination in the ‘Best Global Music Performance Category.’ Titled “Abundance in Millets,” the composition is the work of Mumbai-born singer-songwriter Falguni Shah, widely known as Falu, and her husband Gaurav Shah. The song incorporates excerpts from PM Modi’s speech delivered during the inauguration of the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in March of the current year.
Previously in his speech, PM Modi emphasised India’s leadership in the global celebration of ‘International Millet Year,’ expressing optimism that efforts by farmers and citizens would contribute to the prosperity of India and the world. Falu and Gaurav Shah included this significant portion of the speech in their song.
A song on Millets which was produced in collaboration with PM Modi has been nominated under the Best Global Music Performance category for Grammy Awards 2024. pic.twitter.com/5Iqpu61GKC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 10, 2023
Earlier responding to the song, PM Modi commended the “Excellent effort” by Falu and highlighted the importance of millets for health and well-being. The song aligns creativity with the crucial cause of food security and hunger eradication.
The ‘Best Global Music Performance’ category at the Grammy Awards also features nominations for six other songs:
1. “Shadow Forces” by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily
2. “Alone” by Burna Boy
3. “Feel” by Davido
4. “Milagro Y Disastre” by Silvana Estrada
5. “Pashto” by B la Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia
6. “Todo Colores” by Ibrahim Maalouf featuring Cimafunk and Tank and the Bangas
The year 2023 has been designated as the “International Year of Millets” following a proposal brought forth by India and endorsed by the members of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) governing bodies, as well as the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.
“Abundance in Millets” was crafted to raise awareness about millets as a potential solution to global hunger, as stated on Falu’s website. Falu, a Grammy Award recipient for Best Children’s Album in 2022 for “A Colorful World,” shared that the inspiration for the song came during her meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi last year, post her Grammy win.