Ep XTRA 13. Music, Masala and Malgudi: Inside the world of Shankar Mahadevan

What if one man’s voice could change the way we hear music, eat food and celebrate life? 

In this special Money Majlis XTRA episode, Suvo Sarkar is joined by Padma Shri awardee Shankar Mahadevan, singer, composer, Grammy‑winning frontman of Shakti and co‑founder of the South Indian resto‑café brand Malgudi. Together they trace a remarkable journey from a Tamil Iyer childhood in Chembur and veena lessons at five, to becoming the “Shankar” of Shankar‑Ehsaan‑Loy and reshaping the sound of modern Hindi cinema with albums like Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Shankar opens up about the surreal moment of walking onto the Grammy stage with Shakti and why, for him, the biggest award is simply sharing a platform with maestros like John McLaughlin and Ustad Zakir Hussain. He revisits the making of Breathless, the three‑minute marvel that began as an experimental meter in a composer’s office and went on to become a generational anthem that refuses to age after twenty-seven years. 

The conversation dives into craft and technology as Shankar reflects on how his early career as a software engineer now shapes his studio process, from composing inside a DAW to thinking of plug‑ins as creative partners. He explains how rigorous Carnatic and Hindustani training built the grammar that lets him move effortlessly between classical, film, fusion and folk, and why he believes folk music, born from life’s milestones, sits even “above” classical in its raw power.

From there, Suvo steers the discussion into food and entrepreneurship. Shankar shares the manifestation story behind Malgudi, how a chance meeting with Chembur friend Ramakrishnan turned a foodie’s dream into a fast‑growing chain in Mumbai and Dubai, and why they obsessed over every element, from the exact texture of the idli to the signature Malgudi sambar and filter coffee. He reveals his plans to turn Malgudi into a cultural brand with live music, spiritual mornings and curated experiences that blend sound and flavour.

Along the way, you will hear about his global tours, the healing power of music, his 15‑year‑old digital academy reaching students in 90‑plus countries, and his clear‑eyed view on AI as a powerful but ultimately subordinate tool in the creative process. This is an episode about excellence, humility and celebrating life, whether on stage, in the studio or over a hot dosa.

Produced by : Poddster

Giving partner: Goodworld

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