Celebrated sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar has publicly criticised Air India after her precious sitar was severely damaged during a flight. The incident, which she described as "devastating," occurred despite her using special protective cases and the airline charging a handling fee for the instrument.
Instrument Cracked After Flight
Shankar, the daughter of the late sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar, took to Instagram on the evening of Wednesday, December 3, 2025, to share her distress. In a video post, she revealed she discovered significant cracks in her sitar after a recent journey with the national carrier. This was her first time flying with Air India after a long gap, making the incident even more disheartening for the artist.
"You’re the country this music belongs to," she expressed in the video, highlighting her disappointment. She pointed out that in over 15 to 17 years of frequent global travel, this was the first time her instrument had suffered such harm. The damage was so severe that it was immediately apparent when she tried to tune and play the sitar after her flight.
A Question of Care and Accountability
In her emotional appeal, Anoushka Shankar directly questioned Air India's procedures. "How have you done this? I have special cases, you charge a handling fee and yet you’ve done this?" she asked. In the caption accompanying the video, she elaborated on her feelings, stating she was "truly disturbed" by the airline's treatment of her instrument.
She suggested that such extensive damage could not occur without "wilful disregard" for the fragile cargo. The musician found it particularly sad that an Indian instrument was not safe with the country's flagship airline, especially after thousands of incident-free flights with other carriers.
Outpouring of Support from the Fraternity
The post quickly garnered widespread attention and solidarity from fans, fellow musicians, and public figures. Comedian Zakir Khan called the situation "extremely heartbreaking," while music composer Vishal Dadlani echoed the sentiment. Her cousin, musician Anvita Shankar, also commented, expressing disbelief at how the sitar could be damaged inside its secure hard case and demanding accountability from Air India.
The timing of this incident adds another layer, as it comes just a month after Anoushka Shankar received a significant professional honour. In November 2025, she earned her 11th Grammy Award nomination, this time in the Best Global Performance category for her work 'Daybreak,' a collaboration with her cousin Alam Khan and percussionist Sarathy Korwar.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the handling of delicate and culturally significant items by airlines, putting the spotlight on Air India's customer service and cargo handling protocols.
