Recognise Grammy winner Kej, Shankar, Sameer tell govt

Award-winning composer-playback singer Shankar Mahadevan today expressed disappointment and Bollywood lyricist Sameer said it is a "biggest blunder" of the Central government not recognising Grammy winner Ricky Kej's efforts and his art.
"I am really very happy for Ricky Kej for getting the Grammy. He is a talented musician, and I am happy and privileged to have worked with him in his initial project, but I am really disappointed that he did not get the kind of recognition and the kind of mileage he is supposed to get," Mahadevan old PTI on the sidelines of an event held by Connect India here.

"It (not recognising Kej getting a Grammy Award) is a biggest blunder, and I am definitely very much upset with that," Sameer said.
Earlier, this month Kej had told PTI, "After receiving numerous awards and recognition all over the world, including the Grammy Award, I do feel incomplete when my own government does not recognise my efforts and my art."
Kej is the fourth Indian to have won the Grammy. The other three are Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and A R Rahman.He had bagged the coveted Grammy award for his new age album 'Winds of Samsara' in February this year.

Mahadevan said "I don't know whether to blame the media or the people of this country, because at the end of the day he did win a Grammy and I think that every single person should know that he has won a Grammy."

Sameer said it hurts when somebody does not get recognition for what he has achieved. "It is very disappointing. What Shankar says is right... In the music world it is so very big achievement. If somebody has achieved Grammy and 80 per cent of us are not aware of it. That hurts," he said.
Sameer said the Centre should take the initiative to recognise the achievement of Kej, who had put in years of hard work. Kej should be recognised not only because he has won the Grammy, but also because it would inspire others to make efforts to win the most coveted global award.

Sameer said it serves no purpose when the achiever is not recognised.".... From all the sides including media, the film industry, the government - from all sides, we should try to give him that kind of recognition which he deserves."
Mahadevan said Kej is a talented musician and he is working on a new project with him.