Indian Musical Talents Miss Out at 68th Grammy Awards Ceremony
The 68th Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles on February 1, saw several prominent Indian artists and projects falling short of securing the coveted golden microphone despite strong nominations across multiple categories.
Anoushka Shankar's Double Nomination Ends Without Victory
Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary musician Ravi Shankar, experienced disappointment in both categories where she was nominated. In the Global Music Performance category, her track "Daybreak" lost out to Bad Bunny's "EoO," which also featured the collaborative song "Shirini's Dream (Live)" by the fusion band Shakti.
Shankar faced another setback in the Global Music Album category, where her album "Chapter III: We Return to Light" was nominated alongside Indian musician Siddhant Bhatia's "Sounds of Kumbha" and "Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)" by Shakti. The award instead went to "Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo" by Brazilian artists Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethania.
These nominations marked Shankar's 12th and 13th Grammy nominations throughout her illustrious career, though she has yet to secure a win. The artist made a conscious decision to skip this year's ceremony, choosing instead to continue her tour in India.
Shakti's Collaborative Effort Falls Short
The fusion band Shakti, featuring renowned artists including John McLaughlin, the late Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Selvaganesh Vinayakram, and Ganesh Rajagopalan, saw their collaborative track "Shirini's Dream (Live)" featured on the winning Bad Bunny song but failed to secure individual recognition. Their album "Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)" also missed out in the Global Music Album category.
Sounds of Kumbha and Additional Indian Nominees
Siddhant Bhatia's "Sounds of Kumbha" project, which featured Indo-American jazz pianist Charu Suri, was nominated in the Global Music Album category but did not emerge victorious. Suri received additional recognition with a nomination in the Contemporary Instrumental Album category for her album "Shayan," though this award went to Arkai for "Brightside."
Shankar's Conscious Choice to Prioritize Mental Health
In a revealing Instagram post ahead of the ceremony, Anoushka Shankar explained her decision to avoid the Grammy festivities. "I'm proud to be twice nominated," she wrote, acknowledging her 12th and 13th career nominations as "HUGE" achievements. However, she expressed relief at not being "sucked into the whirlwind of interlocking excitement and stress" that accompanies major awards events.
Shankar emphasized her commitment to practicing what she preaches, stating that "awards don't matter like the actual connection playing music for people affords us as artists." She also highlighted the importance of mental health, noting how the emotional toll of potentially missing out on wins can be taxing for artists.
Ceremony Details and Host
The 68th Grammy Awards were hosted by Trevor Noah for his sixth and final time as master of ceremonies. The event took place in Los Angeles, bringing together music industry luminaries from around the world to celebrate artistic achievements across numerous genres and categories.
Despite the disappointment for Indian nominees, their multiple nominations across prestigious categories demonstrate the growing global recognition of Indian musical talent and fusion projects that blend traditional elements with contemporary sounds.
