Mumbai, Saturday 22 August 2009: Five Indian artistes have made it to Amazon.com’s 100 Greatest World Music albums of all time. The list includes albums of Asha Bhosle, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan, Shujaat Hussain Khan and A R Rahman.

These artistes share space with some of the most popular and respected world musicians like Bob Marley, French-Algerian Rachid Taha and Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Amazon.com is an American multinational electronic commerce company and a major online music and video retailer across the world.

The highest scoring Indian artist on the list is Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose album The Ravi Shankar Collection: Live… sits at number 20.

Rahman’s Lagaan soundtrack is on number 44, while Bhosle’s Precious Platinum that was released last year is on number 37. On number 38 is revered sarod player Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, who along with his colleague Shankar is known to have popularised Indian classical music in the west.

While the above-mentioned albums are all on Indian labels, 2004-Grammy nominated sitar player Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan has made it to number 52 with his fusion album on an American label.

The album, Lost Songs Of The Silk Road, by Ghazal features a beautiful synthesis of Indian and Persian music. While calling it an honour Khan says it’s about time the Indian government made a note too, “It’s great to be rated amongst some of the finest musicians of the world,” he said.

Bhosle’s son and manager, Anand, speaking to HT from Bahrain, said, “It was for her 75th birthday last year. As usual she put her best foot forward.”

Rahman, who is currently in Los Angeles, was unavailable for comment, but director-producer Ashutosh Gowariker said, “It’s great news.”
(Agency)