He came from Malerkotla, Punjab to the UK in 1975 and gradually started the popularity of Punjabi music among the Punjabi youth in the UK, forming the Alaap group in 1977 with other talented musicians.
Lewis began singing something while strumming his guitar, Hari felt inspired to jam with an alaap, and the result: the seamless fusion of Eastern and Western sounds that has become characteristic of the Colonial Cousins.The year 1996 was a career milestone; he formed the band Colonial Cousins with ghazal singer Hariharan.
Rakesh Pandit debuted in 1994 when he rendered the high-pitched alaaps and the sargam for Tu cheez badi hai mast mast from Mohra.