Sunday, June 14, 2026
ADVT 
Bollywood

It Was Fun Being Backstage At Grammys: Anoushka Shankar

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Feb, 2016 01:09 PM
    Acclaimed sitarist Anoushka Shankar, who recently presented at the 58th annual Grammy Awards, said she had "fun" being backstage with the people she admires.
     
    "It was really fun being backstage with people I admire and getting to be a part of what many call the 'real' Grammys in the daytime, where a truly global and diverse group of artists are represented," Anoushka, had earlier shared that she is the "first ever Indian musician" to present at the ceremony, told IANS in an email interview. 
     
    Anoushka was also nominated for an award in the Best World Music Album category for her solo album "Home" but she couldn't grab the coveted trophy. This was the fifth time that Anoushka was nominated for the Grammy Awards.
     
    She lost out to Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo. 
     
    "I teased Angelique to stop beating me in that category! She's an amazing artist and woman and deserves every win though," Anoushka sportingly said about her defeat. 
     
    However, she praised Indo-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia for winning Best Music Film award for "Amy", a documentary on the life of late singer Amy Winehouse.
     
     
    "Oh, without doubt he deserved that win. 'Amy' is an incredible documentary into the life of a unique artist and the trials of an addict. Recovery is something very close to my heart for personal reasons and therefore, the film impacted me greatly," she said.
     
    The daughter of late sitar player Ravi Shankar said that she enjoyed rapper Kendrick Lamar's performance the most. Lamar won big with five trophies for his album "To Pimp a Butterfly" at the Grammy Awards, which was held here on Monday. 
     
    "Without a doubt, Kendrick Lamar's visceral and politically-charged performance was my favourite. In the face of controversy around how white the Oscars have been, I felt proud in that moment," she said. 
     
    Anoushka, who is ready with her new album "Land of Gold", says she is going to tour India later this year to promote it. 
     
    "Yes, I will be touring, although not until later in the year. We begin the tour in North America before travelling through Europe and finally India and the Middle East late-autumn onwards," she added. 
     
    The album, which will release on April 1, is said to be her response to the trauma and injustice being experienced by refugees and victims of war, taking inspiration from recent news images of people fleeing civil war, oppression, poverty and unbearable hardship. 

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Why Juhi Is 'Feeling Very Sad, Very Quiet'

    Why Juhi Is 'Feeling Very Sad, Very Quiet'
    Actress Juhi Chawla is upset as her guru Pandharinath Kolhapure is no more. 

    Why Juhi Is 'Feeling Very Sad, Very Quiet'

    A.R. Rahman's 'sold out concert' in London

    A.R. Rahman's 'sold out concert' in London
    Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, who performed at London's O2 arena on August 15, the Indian Independence Day, has thanked his fans for the sold-out concert.

    A.R. Rahman's 'sold out concert' in London

    What Freedom Means For Bollywood Celebs?

    What Freedom Means For Bollywood Celebs?
    As India celebrates its 69th Independence Day on Saturday, IANS spoke to a few Bollywood celebrities to get an idea of what freedom means to them.

    What Freedom Means For Bollywood Celebs?

    Want To Show Indian Muslims Are Also Patriotic: Saif

    Actor Saif Ali Khan says his character of an Indian Muslim in "Phantom" has a crucial undercurrent because they wanted to show that Indian Muslims also feel patriotic about their country.

    Want To Show Indian Muslims Are Also Patriotic: Saif

    I Love My India, Says B-Town On Independence Day

    I Love My India, Says B-Town On Independence Day
    Here's what B-Town clebrities tweeted on the country's 69th Independence Day:

    I Love My India, Says B-Town On Independence Day

    Iranian Actress Golshifteh Farahani 'Touched' By Irrfan's Hospitality

    Iranian Actress Golshifteh Farahani 'Touched' By Irrfan's Hospitality
    Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who was on a visit to India for the preliminary work on a new film “Song of Scorpions”, says her co-star Irrfan Khan played the perfect host.

    Iranian Actress Golshifteh Farahani 'Touched' By Irrfan's Hospitality