Internationally acclaimed sitarist Anoushka Shankar has publicly criticized Air India after her valuable instrument sustained significant damage during a flight. The daughter of legendary musician Ravi Shankar and multiple Grammy nominee documented the incident through an emotional Instagram video that has since garnered widespread attention.
In the revealing footage, Shankar demonstrates the extensive harm inflicted upon her sitar, expressing both devastation and disbelief. ‘I thought it was simply out of tune initially,’ she explained while examining the instrument. ‘After tuning it, I picked it up to play and realized the true extent of the damage.’
The artist emphasized the particular disappointment of this incident occurring with India’s national carrier, especially given her extensive travel history. ‘This marks my first experience flying with Air India in many years,’ Shankar noted. ‘The irony that an Indian instrument couldn’t be safely transported by India’s flagship airline feels particularly distressing.’
Shankar revealed that despite paying special handling fees and utilizing professional-grade protective cases specifically designed for instrument transport, the sitar arrived damaged. She highlighted that this represents the first such incident in her 15-17 years of international touring.
The timing adds another layer to the story, as Shankar recently received two Grammy nominations for her musical projects. Her single ‘Daybreak’ earned a nomination for Best Global Music Performance, while her collaborative album ‘Chapter III: We Return To Light’ with Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar received a Best Global Music Album nomination.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony, where Shankar could potentially win her first Grammy after twelve previous nominations, is scheduled for February 1, 2026, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.