If there’s one Indian name that has often been a fixture at the Grammys in the last two decades, it’s Anoushka Shankar. Daughter of legendary sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Indian-origin American artist has now received a total of 11 nominations, most recently for her album Ch II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn and singing on British artist Jacob Collier’s “A Rock Somewhere” with Bengaluru artist Varijashree Venugopal.

Shankar says in a statement, “It’s a wonderful feeling to be Grammy-nominated again this year, and twice! I’m especially grateful that my latest album Ch II: How Dark it is Before Dawn has been nominated, not least as it means the music I sent out into the world in hopes for peace and healing reaches even more people.”

Nominated for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album and Best Global Music Performance, Shankar earned her first Grammy nomination way back in 2022, in the then-named World Music Category for her album Live at Carnegie Hall. In all the years since, however, Shankar has yet to take home the coveted golden gramophone.

She says about her streak of nominations and no win so far, “I can’t help but hold my breath a little though, as I’ve been through this process before, and although I’m very fortunate to have been nominated so many times I’ve never won. I’m wary of how the nomination that initially feels so elating can later feel less-than when it doesn’t manifest a win. I’ve learned to try to stay focused on gratitude for the initial nomination and just enjoy the ride. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was hoping for a different outcome! I hope people are with me and I’m grateful to once again be representing India on the global stage.”

Still, Shankar did become the first Indian musician to perform at the Grammys in 2005, and presented an award in 2016 and performed for a second time during the lockdown edition of the Grammys in 2021, followed by a third performance in 2023 with Pakistani-origin artist Arooj Aftab on their song “Udhero Na.” A press release adds, “The custom Manish Arora creation she wore to present in 2016 was requested for exhibit by the Grammy museum, where it was on show for over a year.”

In the past, Shankar has earned nominations for her solo albums Rise (in 2006), Traveller (in 2013), Traces Of You (in 2015), Home (in 2016), Land Of Gold (in 2017), Love Letters (in 2021) and Between Us… (in 2023).

Author: Srishti Pandey