India-born Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon won a Grammy for her album Triveni at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles in the category of Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album. The 67th Grammy Awards, which aired on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday night, were hosted by Trevor Noah.
Tandon received her second Grammy nomination when she was nominated during the 2025 Grammy Awards. She received her first Grammy nomination for her 2009 album Soul Call.
India’s Chandrika Tandon wins first Grammy
Hours after receiving the award alongside her collaborators Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto and South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, Tandon expressed her gratitude on social media. She congratulated the other nominees in the category and thanked them for their music.
During her acceptance speech, Tandon spoke about the importance of music in the world. “Music is love, music is light, music is laughter, we are all surrounded by love, light and laughter. Thank you for music and thank you to everyone who makes music.”
She also shared her pride and respect for the global spotlight on “ancient Indian healing mantras.”
Chandrika Tandon’s Grammy Award-winning album: Triveni
A collaboration between three artists – Kellerman, Matsumoto and Tandon – Triveni is about the coming together of different cultures. The name is derived from the Hindi word Triveni, which means the confluence of three rivers. The album contains seven songs. Each song has its own story and adds to the album’s healing resonance.
After receiving her second Grammy nomination, Tandon issued a press statement saying, “The album is a true collection of three artistic spirits united by a higher purpose in music to heal. These mantras have deep meaning, recognizing our inner wholeness – ancient words with vibrations beyond our comprehension. This nomination will allow more people to experience their own healing power.”
Appreciating her achievement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her on social media and recalled that he had met her in 2023. “We are very proud of her achievements as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and of course music! The way she is passionate about Indian culture and working to popularize it is admirable. She is an inspiration to many.”
The musician responded to the Prime Minister’s post. “I am grateful at every level. Thank you to the divine for paving this path and thank you to Prime Minister Modi for such a warm message.”
She also posted a reply to a message from Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. Thanking him, she wrote, “What a privilege and honor it is to bring ancient Indian healing mantras to the global stage.”
Tandon has been producing music for a long time. She has released six albums under her non-profit music label Soul Chants Music. Ancient Vedic hymns inspire her music. According to her website, she has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Nassau Coliseum, Times Square, and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Chandrika Tandon is the elder sister of Indira Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. They completed their education in Chennai before Tandon went to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, a leading management school. She was the first Indian woman to become a partner at management consulting firm McKinsey. Tandon is a distinguished alumnus of both IIM Ahmedabad and Madras Christian College.
Before Chandrika Tandon, there were several musicians from India who won Grammy Awards. The country has over 25 Grammy Awards to its credit. Late musician Ravi Shankar holds the maximum number of Grammy Awards in India – five of them. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has four and Ricky Kejriwal has three Grammy Awards. AR Rahman, Gulzar and Shankar Mahadevan also held Grammy Awards.
