Terrific trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy have been lighting up Indian cinema with sparkling hits for 20 years, and written themselves into the history books with incredible songs that have entertained global audiences.
Instead of resting on their impressive achievements, they are continuing to power on with even better tracks and world-class live performances. They will return to the UK next week to headline the Alchemy festival, which is being held at Southbank Centre in central London. The trio have been working overtime to deliver what promises to be one of the most memorable concerts of the year at the annual event, along with performing in Leicester.
Eastern Eye caught up with Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa to talk about all things music, their forthcoming shows, unfulfilled ambitions and more.
You three have one of the most incredible musical partnerships in the world. What has kept the bond so strong?
Shankar: I think it’s because we are all different as individuals, have different musical preferences and completely different musical sensibilities. (Laughs) Opposites do attract, I guess.
Ehsaan: The music, the fun, the growth and mutual respect that we have for each other has kept us connected.
Loy: Yes, it is the music and the diversity that we bring to it. (Smiles) And long may it continue!
How do you look back on your journey as a hit-making trio?
Loy: It has not been easy. There have been lots of ups, downs, creative quarrels and disagreements, but ultimately we work towards writing a good song.
Ehsaan: It’s been a great learning experience with a lot of ups and downs along the way, which have only added to our growth musically and spiritually, I would say.
Shankar: I think the journey has been very educational and we have learned a lot of things both in and out of music. When we look back we are really proud of the catalogue of work that we have created.
Has the way you three work over time changed?
Shankar: Yes, it has changed. (Laughs) It was a bit chaotic and now even more so.
You have set such high standards in your music. Does that put pressure on you every time you go into the studio?
Ehsaan: There’s definitely pressure on us to create something better than the time before, but that is the stimulus we need to create better music each time.
How does the studio compare to the stage?
Ehsaan: They are completely different experiences, but there would be no stage performances if we did not create the music in the studio in the first place.
Loy: You know, both are part of the whole. It’s not isolated. Performing your music and taking it to the audience is so important.
Can you tell if a song will be a hit while you are recording it?
Loy: It is very difficult to say. Sometimes you just have a good feeling on a song and sometimes a track will surprise you when it releases.
Talking of which, is there one song that exceeded your expectations when it was released?
Loy: Yes, I think Kajra Re (from Bunty Aur Babli). No one expected that song to take off like it did. It is still a big track even today.
Where is the strangest place you have come up with a song?
Loy: (Laughs) In terms of the strangest place (for me), that would be unmentionable! I will leave it to your imagination.
How much are you looking forward to the UK shows?
Shankar: We always look forward to coming to the UK and are excited.
Ehsaan: It’s been a while since we performed in England, so we are very much looking forward to returning for our shows. We have a huge fan following there, so performing and interacting with them will be a very fulfilling experience, as it always has been.
What can we expect from the shows this year?
Loy: You can definitely expect another high-energy performance. You can expect all of our hit songs and some of ‘our’ personal favourites too.
Shankar: We will be performing a mix of all our popular songs. We also have a set of young, extremely talented artists who are very energetic performers joining us.
How much has performing live helped you three as composers?
Shankar: It’s a kind of energy you get which is irreplaceable, and that carries on into the studio.
You have so many hits. Does it become difficult to choose which songs to perform?
Ehsaan: The simple answer is yes. We have more than 300 songs to choose from, including 45 number ones. It does make it very difficult, but eventually it’s a process of elimination, where we choose the ‘most popular’ ones as opposed to just the popular ones.
What is your favourite part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy live show?
Loy: There’s no favourite part for me. I like the whole graph. It’s difficult to isolate any particular segment.
Ehsaan: I think the entire show in itself is an experience, from the sound check to post show.
Shankar: All parts of the show are a favourite of mine, but if I had to choose one, it would be performing Kal Ho Na Ho.
Shankar, as the lead singer, do you feel added pressure going on stage?
Shankar: (Laughs) No, I never feel pressure. It’s the opposite – I can’t wait to go on stage.
What advice would you give a young musician?
Ehsaan: The key piece of advice I would give is that always know that you are a music student from the beginning to the end.
Shankar, you have done some incredible songs, but who would your dream duet be with now?
Shankar: There are only about 100 artists who I dream about working with, so I can’t single out just one.
Ehsaan, you are one of the greatest guitar players, but who is your all-time guitar hero?
Ehsaan: I have too many heroes to name just one. All of them, in one way or the other, have influenced not only my guitar playing, but my song writing as well. But some of the top ones I admire are BB King, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Today, what is the greatest unfulfilled musical ambition you have?
Loy: Mine is to play the trumpet like Miles Davis.
Shankar: I feel that this is just the beginning, with much more to do and accomplish, so there is still a lot to do.
Ehsaan: There’s a lot more that I need to learn and add to my musical growth.
Which soundtracks can we look forward to?
Shankar: The soundtracks we have coming up include Rakeysh Mehra’s Mirzya, Rock On 2, an ongoing production with Yash Raj Films and several other new projects that are in the pipeline.
Finally, why should we all come to the live shows?
Ehsaan: Because it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Loy: You should all come to have a fun evening out.
Shankar Ehsaan Loy will be performing at De Montfort Hall in Leicester next Friday (27), and at Royal Festival Hall in London as part of the Alchemy Festival next Saturday (28). Visit www.rockonmusic uk.com or www.southbankcentre.co.uk to find out more.
A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.
It was set up following the violent unrest that broke out in 27 towns and cities after three young girls were killed in Southport last July. False claims about the attacker's identity spread rapidly on social media, helping to fuel the disorder.
Sir Sajid warned that Britain has become a "tinderbox of division" due to years of neglect. He said governments have only acted when tensions boil over, rather than dealing with the root problems. "We are more disconnected as a country than at any point in our modern history," he told reporters. "There is a pandemic of loneliness that has spread across the country."
According to Javid, who served as communities secretary, home secretary and chancellor in the cabinets of David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, social cohesion had been treated as a “second tier” issue by successive governments.
“Communal life in Britain is under threat like never before and intervention is urgently needed," he told the Telegraph. "There have been long-term, chronic issues undermining connections within our communities for several decades now, such as the degradation of local infrastructure from the local pub to churches, the weakening of family units, growing inequality, declining trust in institutions and persistent neglect from policy-makers."
He pointed to several factors making the situation worse, including high levels of immigration that haven't been properly managed, rising cost of living pressures, social media spreading extremist views, declining trust in public institutions, and the breakdown of local community spaces like pubs and churches.
Cruddas, who represented Dagenham for over 20 years, said the commission would listen directly to people across Britain rather than impose solutions from Westminster.
Over the next 12 months, the panel will examine what's driving people apart and develop practical recommendations for government. The group includes former West Midlands mayor Sir Andy Street, ex-Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, and counter-extremism expert Dame Sara Khan.
The commission is being supported by the Together Coalition, which was founded by Brendan Cox after his wife, MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016.
Sir Sajid remains optimistic about Britain's future, saying the country has "phenomenal attributes" to overcome its challenges. The commission aims to create "a vision for communities that all British citizens can buy into."
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Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)
A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.
Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Akter had been living in a refuge since January after Masum threatened her with a knife at their home in Oldham. Masum tracked her using her phone location and confronted her after she left the refuge to meet a friend, believing he was in Spain.
Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. He was arrested three days later in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Kulsuma Aktergetty images
Masum, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley, had admitted manslaughter and possession of a knife but denied murder. He was found guilty of murder, stalking, making threats to kill, and assault by beating.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the attack was “planned and premeditated”. West Yorkshire Police described it as a “brutal” daylight attack. Det Ch Insp Stacey Atkinson said Ms Akter “should have been safe”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct found no breach of standards by officers involved prior to her death. Masum is due to be sentenced on 22 July.
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Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
INDIA has declined a request from the United Nations aviation agency to allow one of its investigators to observe the probe into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12, Reuters reported, citing two senior sources familiar with the matter.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had offered to provide assistance by sending one of its investigators, following the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner earlier this month. It was an unusual move, as ICAO typically deploys investigators only upon request from the country leading the investigation.
In this case, ICAO had asked Indian authorities to allow the investigator already present in India to join the probe as an observer, the sources told Reuters. However, Indian officials refused the offer. Times Now was the first to report this development on Thursday.
The civil aviation ministry said on Thursday that the flight recorder data was downloaded around two weeks after the crash.
Some safety experts had earlier raised concerns over the delay in the analysis of the black box data and a lack of information on the progress of the probe. The first combined black box unit was recovered on June 13, and a second set was found on June 16.
It is still unclear whether the black boxes are being read in India or the US. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also participating in the investigation. The Indian government has held only one press conference so far, where no questions were taken.
According to global aviation norms under "Annex 13", a decision on where to read the flight recorders should be made immediately if the information obtained could help prevent similar accidents in the future.
An unnamed aviation ministry official said earlier this week that the ministry is "following all the ICAO protocols." The official also said that media representatives have been sharing updates on major developments.
Most air accidents result from a combination of factors. A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days of the crash.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”
Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years
She will remain Vogue’s global editorial director and hold senior roles at Condé Nast
Wintour transformed US Vogue into a global fashion authority
The 75-year-old has received numerous honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom
End of an era at US Vogue
Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor of US Vogue, bringing to a close a 37-year tenure that redefined the publication and saw her become one of the most influential figures in global fashion.
The announcement was made on Thursday (26 June) during a staff meeting in New York. Wintour, 75, will no longer oversee the day-to-day editorial operations of Vogue’s US edition. However, she will continue to serve as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, maintaining senior leadership roles across the company.
A transformative legacy
Wintour took the helm of US Vogue in 1988, inheriting a relatively conservative magazine. She swiftly transformed it into a trendsetting, authoritative voice in fashion. Under her leadership, the publication became known for its iconic covers, high-end photography, and ability to shape careers in the fashion industry.
With extensive budgets and strong advertising support, Vogue became a global fashion flagship, influencing designers, celebrities, and brands worldwide.
Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour” for her decisiveness, with some reports noting her tendency to make bold editorial decisions without extensive discussion. Her distinctive bob haircut and ever-present sunglasses made her a recognisable front-row figure at fashion weeks around the world.
Beyond the magazine
The British-born editor rose to wider public fame as the inspiration behind the character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada — both the 2003 novel and the 2006 film adaptation. While Wintour rarely commented on the portrayal, she acknowledged the attention it brought, most recently during the launch of a stage musical adaptation in London in 2024.
She told the BBC, “They [my sunglasses] help me see and they help me not see. They help me be seen and not be seen. They are a prop, I would say.”
Wintour also became synonymous with the Met Gala, the annual high-profile charity event in New York City, which she has organised for years, drawing celebrities from fashion, film, politics, and sport.
Recognition and future plans
Wintour has received numerous accolades during her career. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2017 and became a Companion of Honour in February 2025. During the ceremony in London, she removed her sunglasses to receive the award and told King Charles III that she had no intention of retiring.
Wintour also became synonymous with the Met GalaGetty Images
In the United States, President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year before leaving office.
Despite stepping back from US Vogue, Wintour will continue to oversee several major Condé Nast titles including Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, Condé Nast Traveler, and Glamour, as part of her global leadership responsibilities.
In her remarks to staff, she described the decision as “pivotal” but confirmed she would not be leaving the company or her office. “I’ll be turning all my attention to global leadership and working with our team of brilliant editors around the world,” she said.
FILE PHOTO: A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE people responsible for the Post Office Horizon scandal may not face trial until 2028, according to the senior police officer leading the investigation.
Commander Stephen Clayman has said that the process is taking longer because police are now looking at a wider group of people, not just those directly involved in decisions about the faulty Horizon computer system, reported the Telegraph.
Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of theft and false accounting after problems with the Horizon software made it appear that money was missing from local Post Office branches.
Many of these sub-postmasters lost their jobs, reputations, and in some cases, their freedom. The scandal is now seen as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
Despite a court ruling that cleared many of the former sub-postmasters, hundreds are still waiting for compensation. The government has promised payouts of up to £600,000 for those whose convictions have been overturned, but delays continue.
Commander Clayman explained that the investigation, known as Operation Olympos, has grown in size and complexity. Police are now looking beyond the original group of suspects to include senior managers and others who may have played a role in the scandal.
“We are beginning to scope, looking at wider management. That will happen and is happening – it will just take time to get there,” he told the BBC. He stressed the need for the police teams to be “really meticulous and pay attention to detail”.
So far, seven people have been identified as suspects, and dozens more are considered persons of interest. The investigation is enormous, with more than 3,000 possible victims and 1.5 million documents to review.
No one will be charged until the public inquiry into the scandal has finished and police have carefully examined its findings. The inquiry is expected to provide crucial evidence about who knew what, and when.
Victims of the scandal say they are desperate for answers and accountability. Tim Brentnall, a former sub-postmaster, said it was important for the police to “do it properly”, even if it means waiting longer for justice.
David Enright, a solicitor from Howe and Co, whose firm represented most of the sub-postmasters involved in the inquiry, said many sub-postmasters have died without ever seeing those responsible held to account. He added that sub-postmasters are left wondering why there is no real urgency driving the police investigation.
A Post Office spokesperson said the company has “co-operated fully and openly with the Metropolitan Police since early 2020 to provide whatever information it needs for its investigations”.