Indian-American singer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Chandrika Tandon, 70, has won the prestigious Grammy Award for her album Triveni in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category at the 67th Grammy Awards. The album was a collaborative effort with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.

This is an extraordinary moment for Tandon, who was earlier nominated in 2011 for her album Om Namo Narayana: Soul Call under the Best Contemporary World Music Album category. Speaking to the Recording Academy after her win, she expressed her gratitude:

"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."

Who were the other nominees in this category?

It was a stiff competition Tandon and her team faced several renowned artists in the category, including:

Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej

Opus by the late Japanese legend Ryuichi Sakamoto

Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn by Indian-American sitarist Anoushka Shankar

Warriors of Light by Radhika Vekaria

Regardless of the strong contenders, Triveni stood out victorious to its unique fusion of diverse musical traditions.

What is Triveni About?

The album Triveni, released on August 30, 2024, is a concept of confluence, much like its name, which is the sacred meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Indian tradition. It brings together three artists from different cultural backgrounds to create a rich, meditative, and spiritually uplifting experience.

Featuring seven tracks—Pathway to Light, Chant in A, Journey Within, Aether's Serenade, Ancient Moon, Open Sky, and Seeking Shakti—the album combines ancient Vedic chants with melodic flute and resonant cello. According to Tandon's official website, the music fosters mindfulness, self-discovery, and a deeper sense of connection.

Who is Chandrika Tandon?

Chandrika Tandon grew up in Chennai, finished her college education at Madras Christian College, and completed her master's program at IIM Ahmedabad. She rose through the ranks as a global business leader, receiving acknowledgement beyond the music industry. She is the elder sister of former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi.

Tandon has also performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and World Culture Festivals across Europe and India. Her commitment to fusing Indian classical music with global influences has built a devoted audience.

In her acceptance speech, Tandon shared an emotional message about the power of music:

“Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter and let's all be surrounded by love, light, and laughter. Thank you for the music, and thank you to everyone who makes music.”

Later, speaking to reporters backstage, she kept her reaction simple:

"It feels amazing."

Where to watch the Grammy Awards?

The 67th Grammy Awards is being conducted by the Recording Academy within the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Bollywood music lovers in India can watch the show on their Disney+ Hotstar platforms.