Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday, 27 June 2026, congratulated singer-composer Jasleen Royal for becoming the only solo female composer-singer to have three songs in India's Top 150, with her track Inaam entering the Top 15 — a feat he linked directly to the song's launch at Meghalaya's Cherry Blossom Festival.

Context

Sangma's post celebrated Inaam as 'an incredible journey' from its debut at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong to achieving a national chart milestone. He described the song's music video as capturing 'the grandeur of the Cherry Blossom Festival' and cited it as evidence that Meghalaya has grown into 'a world-class music and tourism destination.' The Chief Minister also framed the achievement as an inspiration for 'greater support for women in music.'

Jasleen Royal, a singer-songwriter recognised for both independent music and mainstream Bollywood contributions, has built a reputation for composing melodic, emotionally resonant tracks. Her reaching three simultaneous entries in India's Top 150 is a notable marker in a streaming landscape that remains heavily competitive.

Policy Backdrop

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong has been an annual fixture since the mid-2010s, organised by the Meghalaya state government to promote local culture and drive tourism. The festival, held during the bloom of Himalayan cherry blossoms — typically in November — draws musicians, artists and visitors from across the country and abroad.

Over the years, the event has evolved into a platform for launching music and cultural projects, with state authorities using it as a soft-power vehicle to position Northeast India as a credible entertainment and tourism hub. Sangma's government has been among the more proactive in the region in linking cultural programming to economic development goals.

Stakeholders and Impact

For Jasleen Royal, the milestone reinforces her standing as one of the more versatile voices in contemporary Indian music. For Meghalaya, the association of a nationally charting song with the Cherry Blossom Festival offers tangible promotional value — a real-world example of the state's cultural events generating national visibility.

Women musicians and independent artists stand to benefit if the Chief Minister's call for 'greater support for women in music' translates into state-backed platforms, grants or festival slots. The broader tourism sector in Meghalaya also gains from the narrative, as music-driven destination branding has shown measurable impact on visitor footfall in comparable regional markets.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the next edition of the Cherry Blossom Festival and whether the Meghalaya government formalises any new music or tourism schemes in the state assembly or in coordination with central tourism budgets. Sangma's post signals an intent to deepen the festival's identity as a launchpad for national-scale cultural moments, and further artist tie-ups or state-supported music initiatives could follow.