Shankar Mahadevan on 30 years of devotional concerts and Anandam
Synopsis
Shankar Mahadevan has been performing devotional concerts for 30 years — but with Anandam, he says the audience has finally arrived. The Carnatic-trained Grammy winner argues that spiritual music’s mainstream surge isn’t a trend; it’s a homecoming. With Sonu Nigam, Shaan, and Usha Uthup joining the lineup, this is among the most ambitious bhakti concert events India has seen.
Key Takeaways
Shankar Mahadevan has been performing devotional concerts for over 30 years , rooted in his Carnatic classical training.
Anandam — The Symphony of Devotion features Sonu Nigam , Shaan , Usha Uthup , Bhoomi Trivedi , and others in a large-scale immersive concert.
Mahadevan’s sons Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan are also part of the Anandam lineup.
His debut non-film album Breathless topped Indian charts in 1998 ; he has won one Grammy Award with three nominations .
He received an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2023 .
Veteran singer and music composer Shankar Mahadevan has spoken about his deep-rooted connection with devotional music ahead of Anandam — The Symphony of Devotion, a large-scale immersive concert experience that brings together some of India's most celebrated voices. Mahadevan, whose musical journey spans over three decades, says the moment for spiritual music has never felt more right.
Three Decades of Devotion
Reflecting on his long association with bhakti music, Mahadevan said: “I’ve been doing devotional concerts for many, many years now, almost for the last 30 years, I’m doing devotional concerts.” He traced this back to his classical roots, noting that Carnatic classical music — the tradition in which he was trained — is fundamentally spiritual in its essence.
“So I’ve been doing concerts for over 30 years now. And finally, I think now, the concept of devotional music, spiritual music, has become so popular, and it’s reaching out to the audiences far, wide, and deep. So it’s something that I really look forward to. And I think it’s a beautiful time,” he added.
About Anandam — The Symphony of Devotion
Anandam will feature an ensemble of celebrated artists including Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Usha Uthup, Bhoomi Trivedi, Siddharth Mahadevan, Shivam Mahadevan, Himani Kapoor, Nandi Sisters, Nikhar Juneja, and DJ Afterall. The event is conceived as an immersive experience centred around music, devotion, and culture, according to official communications.
Notably, Mahadevan’s own sons — Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan — are part of the lineup, underlining how the devotional tradition has carried through generations in his family.
Mahadevan's Musical Journey
Mahadevan first captured national attention as an Indi-pop artist with his landmark non-film album Breathless, which topped Indian music charts in 1998, fusing Carnatic, Hindustani, and Jazz idioms. He is a founding member of the acclaimed Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio, the composing collective behind some of Bollywood’s most enduring soundtracks.
His Bollywood credits include “Mitwa” from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, “Kajra Re” from Bunty Aur Babli, and “Gallan Goodiyaan” from Dil Dhadakne Do — songs that blend classical depth with mainstream energy. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Birmingham City University. He has also won one Grammy Award and received three Grammy nominations.
Why This Moment Matters
The rising mainstream appetite for devotional and spiritual music in India — visible in the chart performance of bhajan-adjacent content on streaming platforms — gives Anandam a cultural tailwind. For Mahadevan, this is less a new direction and more a culmination: three decades of devotional work now meeting an audience that has finally caught up. The concert represents one of the most starry lineups assembled for a bhakti-themed live experience in recent years.
Point of View
Driven partly by post-pandemic spirituality and partly by algorithm-friendly repeat listening. The fact that a Grammy-winning Bollywood composer is centering his live identity around devotional music — and assembling a marquee lineup for it — signals that this is no longer a niche. What remains to be seen is whether Anandam translates the format into a repeatable, ticketed property, or remains a one-off showcase. The inclusion of his own sons in the lineup also points to a deliberate attempt at generational continuity for the bhakti concert tradition.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anandam — The Symphony of Devotion?
Anandam — The Symphony of Devotion is a large-scale immersive concert experience centred around music, devotion, and culture. It features artists including Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Usha Uthup, Bhoomi Trivedi, and others.
How long has Shankar Mahadevan been performing devotional concerts?
Shankar Mahadevan has been performing devotional concerts for over 30 years. He attributes this to his Carnatic classical training, which he says is fundamentally spiritual in nature.
What is Shankar Mahadevan known for in Bollywood?
Mahadevan is a founding member of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy composing trio and has sung and composed hits including ‘Mitwa,’ ‘Kajra Re,’ and ‘Gallan Goodiyaan.’ His 1998 non-film album Breathless topped Indian charts and blended Carnatic, Hindustani, and Jazz styles.
Has Shankar Mahadevan won a Grammy Award?
Yes, Shankar Mahadevan has won one Grammy Award and received three Grammy nominations. In 2023, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Birmingham City University.
Who else is performing at Anandam alongside Shankar Mahadevan?
The Anandam lineup includes Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Usha Uthup, Bhoomi Trivedi, Siddharth Mahadevan, Shivam Mahadevan, Himani Kapoor, Nandi Sisters, Nikhar Juneja, and DJ Afterall.
