# Leslee Lewis says current Indian music is ‘dhandha’, not art 2026-08-26T16:13:04+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Leslee Lewis of the 90s duo Colonial Cousins has criticised the current state of Indian music, saying artists are focused on business rather than creativity. He said streaming algorithms force musicians to imitate each other, resulting in songs that all sound the same and lack individuality. "They're not making music, they're doing dhandha," Lewis said in an interview. He added that because melodies no longer hold lasting appeal, listeners are returning to older classics like Lag Jaa Gale. The 90s artists, he said, struggle because their talent does not fit today's moulds. Lewis made the comments after a resurgence of interest in Colonial Cousins following Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting a vinyl of their music to the Australian Prime Minister last month. Lewis and partner Hariharan are reuniting for their 41st song together. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Lewis's critique echoes a long-running debate about the impact of streaming algorithms on musical diversity globally. While convenience has grown, the shelf life of new songs has shrunk. The remark that 90s artists like Lewis and Hariharan do not fit current moulds underscores a structural shift: streaming platforms reward formulaic, short-form tracks optimised for playlists, not the layered compositions that defined the Colonial Cousins era. The duo's 41st song, coming after a decades-long gap, will test whether a legacy act can carve space in an algorithm-driven market. Its release date has not been announced. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Article reports Lewis's criticism without editorialising or taking a side. This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Colonial Cousins, Hariharan, Leslee Lewis, Narendra Modi Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/leslee-lewis-says-current-indian-music-is-dhandha-not-art/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/leslee-lewis-says-current-indian-music-is-dhandha-not-art/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/