Anoushka Shankar on returning to India with ‘Chapters’ tour: “It feels like it is coming full circle in multiple ways” : Bollywood News

Renowned sitarist and 11-time Grammy nominee Anoushka Shankar is set to celebrate 30 years of her touring career with the ‘Chapters’ Tour in India. The much-awaited concert series begins in Hyderabad on January 30, followed by Bengaluru (January 31), Mumbai (February 1), Pune (February 6), Delhi (February 7), and Kolkata (February 8). Ahead of the tour, Anoushka reflected on what it means to return to the country where her journey began. “Coming back to tour India always feels meaningful. And now, doing so on the 30-year anniversary of my touring career feels even more special. This journey started here — the Chapters I’ve been releasing began here, the first show was here. It feels like it is coming full circle in multiple ways. It’s very beautiful,” she shared.

Anoushka Shankar on returning to India with ‘Chapters’ tour: “It feels like it is coming full circle in multiple ways”

Celebrating 30 Years of Music and Evolution
The Chapters Tour not only marks a milestone in Anoushka’s career but also brings her creative trilogy — Ch I: Forever, For Now, Ch II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn, and Ch III: We Return to Light — to completion. The sitarist shared how the upcoming shows will reflect her evolution as a musician and storyteller. “Over the past three years, I’ve been experimenting with releasing mini-albums as chapters that tell an ongoing story. The music on tour has evolved with each release. People who attended earlier shows will see how the journey has reached its end — we’re hardly playing the same music as before, but the emotional thread remains intact,” she said.

Anoushka explained that audiences can expect a complete emotional experience rather than just a setlist. “For those who haven’t followed the trilogy closely, it will feel new — the sound, the look, the energy. It’s a complete show with a narrative that takes people on an emotional journey from start to finish. There’s a balance of introversion and virtuosity, light and shade,” she added.

The ‘Chapters’ Trilogy: A Journey Through Sound and Story
Each of the three Chapters albums represents a phase in Anoushka’s artistic and emotional journey. Recorded across Berlin, California, and India, the trilogy explores themes of transformation, healing, and renewal while blending her Indian classical roots with contemporary sounds.

The final installment, Ch III: We Return to Light, symbolizes an emergence from darkness into illumination. It was created in collaboration with Alam Khan, sarodist and grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan (Pandit Ravi Shankar’s guru), and Sarathy Korwar, an acclaimed percussionist and composer.

Anoushka Shankar’s Legacy and Global Influence
A trailblazer in global music, Anoushka Shankar has received numerous honours, including being the youngest and first female recipient of the British House of Commons Shield, an Ivor Novello Award nominee, and an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. She also received an Honorary Degree in Music from Oxford University in 2024.

She holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman ever nominated for a Grammy and the first Indian artist to perform and present at the Grammy Awards. Her creative journey has seen collaborations with legendary artists such as Gorillaz, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Patti Smith, Norah Jones, and even the Dalai Lama.

Having made her live performance debut at the age of 13, Anoushka continues to carry forward the legacy of her father and guru, Pandit Ravi Shankar, while carving her own path as a global artist. Her ‘Chapters’ tour promises to be a heartfelt celebration of her 30-year journey — a blend of reflection, innovation, and timeless artistry.

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