Air India unveils brand track ‘India Takes Flight'

Air India, India’s global airline, unveiled a track as part of its sonic brand identity, ‘India Takes Flight.’

It is a jugalbandi (musical collaboration) featuring recent Grammy awardee and musician Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist and composer Taufiq Qureshi, lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi, and London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The track is set to Raga Yaman. Air India also onboarded Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, aiming to create a global symphony that resonates across cultures as a warm invitation to India, while acting as a homeward melody welcoming Indians from around the world.

Sunil Suresh, Head, Marketing, Air India, said, “We wanted to create a melody that embodied the Indian spirit. We also wanted to capture a universality that brings people together. This musical odyssey accomplishes it expertly, and as the country’s flag-bearer, we are proud to carry this to the world.”

Mahadevan commented, “Much like the new India, this track is bold and confident, and at the same time, strongly connected to its rich culture and heritage. I was looking for a melody that celebrated the depths of Indian classical music, while sounding warm and inviting. It was an incredible collaboration, linking the best of India to the rest of the world. If you are a musician, you felt like contributing, and if you were in the audience, you felt like joining in.” 

Joshi, Chairman McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, CEO and CCO McCann Worldgroup India, said, “I am incredibly honoured to be a part of this collaboration that embodies Air India’s new global brand identity. Air India always had a sense of rooted cultural ethos. This ethos is not inward looking but connects and welcomes the world. This track signifies Air India the brand on the ascent, one that emanates from the roots but goes on to embrace the skies.”

Qureshi, percussionist and Djembe Maestro, composer, said, “It was exhilarating to collaborate with creative and musical maestros from across the world, and that too for a legendary brand like Air India. It’s an incredibly moving track, and extremely universal. Its themes of flight, hope and ambition resonate not just with Indians but also the citizens of the world.”

James Morgan, conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said, “Collaborating with Shankar, Taufiq Qureshi, and Air India to create the airline’s new sonic identity has been a great privilege. The fusion of our orchestra's classical heritage with the soul of Indian melodies creates a sound that speaks volumes about the shared human emotion of aspiration and flight. We have no doubt it will resonate with hearts and minds around the world.”

Air India will roll out adaptations of the sonic brand identity across the guest’s journeys, starting from digital touchpoints and marketing campaigns to airport lounges and inflight boarding music.

Last week, Air India launched its Safety Video where it teamed up with Bharatbala, Prasoon Joshi, and Shankar Mahadevan to create a cinematographic audio-visual for in-flight safety. The music in the safety video is a part of a brand sonic.

Additionally, Air India has started the rollout of its new global brand identity across guest touchpoints, launched a new consumer-facing website and mobile app, unveiled a new collection of uniforms for cabin and cockpit crew designed by Indian celebrity couturier, Manish Malhotra, and welcomed its first Airbus A350 aircraft in the new livery.

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