In enabling the Indian airline Air India to redefine its identity, Shankar Mahadevan has played a crucial role. The composer was the musical mind behind the brand’s latest launch, of which a newly crafted safety announcement video has particularly gained attention. 

A reflection of the diverse cultural identities of India, the video showcases the various classical dance forms of the country as safety instructions are intermittently depicted. “It was challenging because we needed to convey important and serious content relating to precautionary measures that [a flyer] must take while showcasing our culture.  The tools we used were dance and music, and we did that while maintaining the seriousness that was required while delivering a message of such magnitude,” Mahadevan tells mid-day, further adding that the vision to depict the country’s cultural heritage via the safety announcement video was that of Prasoon Joshi.