Grammy Nominated Sitarist Anoushka Shankar Speaks Out After Air India Damages Her Instrument
Grammy nominated sitarist expresses disappointment over airline’s mishandling of her prized instrument
Mumbai, Dec 04 : Renowned sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar has voiced her frustration after Air India damaged her precious instrument during a flight. The Grammy nominated musician shared her experience on Instagram, showing her sitar and describing the extent of the damage.
In a video post, Anoushka recounted discovering the issue: “At first, I noticed the top of my sitar seemed out of tune. After tuning it, I picked it up to play and realised this was my first time flying Air India in a long while. In 15 or 17 years of traveling with this instrument, nothing like this has ever happened. How could this happen when I have special cases, and you charge a handling fee?”
In her post caption, she added, “Devastated and truly disturbed by @airindia’s treatment of my sitar. How does damage like this happen without carelessness? I’ve flown thousands of times on other airlines without a single peg going out of tune. It’s sad that an Indian instrument isn’t safe with its own national carrier.”
Anoushka’s sitar is central to her musical journey, known for blending classical Indian music with contemporary and electronic styles. She recently earned international recognition at the 68th Grammy Awards, receiving multiple nominations. Her single ‘Daybreak’ was nominated for Best Global Music Performance, while her collaborative album “Chapter III: We Return To Light” with Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar earned a nod for Best Global Music Album.
Sharing her Grammy news on Instagram, she wrote, “Today is a day of contrasts. A horrific migraine AND news of my 12th and 13th Grammy nominations all in one afternoon. I’m beyond grateful, even from my horizontal position in this darkened room. Being nominated alongside the incredible @alamsarode and @sarathykorwar makes it all the sweeter.”
The 2026 Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with CBS airing the show and Paramount+ streaming it live.
