Overview
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts announced the launch of "Melodies by The Leela", an official sonic identity that extends the brand’s four‑decade legacy of Indian luxury hospitality into music. The initiative is presented as a long‑term platform that will evolve through original compositions, destination‑inspired collections and collaborations with leading artists.
Album Details
The inaugural offering under the new platform is the album A Living Raga, a 14‑track collection composed exclusively for The Leela by Grammy‑winning, seventh‑generation sarod maestros Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. Production involved longtime creative partners Karsh Kale and Sawan Dutta. The album also features performances by Rajesh Prasanna on flute, Ahaana Ali on sarangi, Gopal Dayal on shehnai and the legendary Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, delivering a contemporary interpretation of India’s classical traditions.
Launch Event
The first listening took place at The Leela Palace New Delhi on 7 August 2026. Attendees included Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Subhalakshmi Khan, former tennis star Vijay Amritraj, journalist Falguni Shane Peacock, Minister Amitabh Kant, actors Suresh and Priyanka Raina, and journalist Shereen Bhan, among other distinguished guests. CEO and Whole‑time Director Anuraag Bhatnagar highlighted that music has been integral to The Leela’s guest experience for over fifteen years and that the new sonic identity consolidates years of original collaborations into a distinctive brand asset. The Bangash brothers expressed honour in translating India’s timeless musical traditions into a brand‑specific expression.
Culinary and Collectible Elements
The evening also showcased a specially curated commemorative menu that traced The Leela’s journey through regional culinary expressions, beginning with Malvani flavours representing the brand’s first chapter in Mumbai and extending to Karnataka and other regional traditions. In conjunction with the launch, The Leela introduced a limited‑edition collector’s vinyl of A Living Raga, designed for discerning collectors with bespoke artwork and tactile production that emphasize analogue craftsmanship.
Availability and Distribution
Following the New Delhi listening, A Living Raga became available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and the official The Leela website. The vinyl edition is offered as a limited‑edition collector’s item.
Company Profile
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is India’s largest institutionally owned pure‑play luxury hospitality brand, backed by Brookfield. The portfolio comprises 15 operating award‑winning properties across owned, operated and managed models, with an additional 10 properties in the pipeline across major leisure and business destinations in India and Dubai. The brand was ranked #2 globally among the best hotel brands by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2026 and has previously been named the world’s best hotel brand in 2020 and 2021, and placed among the global top three in 2023, 2024 and 2026.