Indian-American artist Chandrika Tandon wins Grammy, beats Anoushka Shankar

This Grammy win marks Chandrika Tandon’s first victory after her second nomination, following her 2009 nod for Soul Call.

Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon secured a Grammy win for her album Triveni, which triumphed in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category at the 67th Grammy Awards.

The prestigious event, hosted by the Recording Academy, took place on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Tandon, a global business leader and the elder sister of former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, shared the honor with her collaborators—South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.

In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Tandon celebrated the power of music, stating, "Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter. Let’s all be surrounded by love, light, and laughter. Thank you for the music, and thank you to everyone who makes music."

This Grammy win marks Chandrika Tandon’s first victory after her second nomination, following her 2009 nod for Soul Call. Reflecting on the achievement in a backstage interview with the Recording Academy, the Chennai-born musician expressed her joy, saying, "It feels amazing."

Tandon’s Triveni triumphed in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category against strong contenders, including Ricky Kej’s Break of Dawn, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Opus, Anoushka Shankar’s Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn, and Radhika Vekaria’s Warriors of Light. "We had such wonderful nominees in the category. The fact that we won this is really an extra special moment for us. There were fabulous musicians who were nominated with us," she added.

True to its name, Triveni—which signifies the sacred confluence of the Indian rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—embodies a harmonious collaboration between three artists from distinct cultural backgrounds: Chandrika Tandon, South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto. Released on August 30, 2024, the album comprises seven tracks, each narrating its own unique story while collectively resonating with the overarching theme of healing and spiritual harmony.

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The tracks—Pathway to Light, Chant in A, Journey Within, Aether’s Serenade, Ancient Moon, Open Sky, and Seeking Shakti—offer a deeply immersive experience. According to Tandon’s official website, Triveni intertwines ancient Vedic chants with the melodic flow of the flute and the deep resonance of the cello, crafting a meditative and reflective soundscape designed to inspire mindfulness, self-discovery, and a profound sense of connection.

Tandon, who has three more albums to her credit, has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the World Culture Festivals across Europe and India. The 2025 Grammys are streaming live on Disney+ Hotstar in India.

(With inputs from PTI)