Anoushka Shankar Delivers Captivating Performance in Delhi's New Venue
Against a striking yellow backlight that beautifully illuminated her black brocade dress and sitar, Anoushka Shankar offered Delhiites a profound sensory experience. The acclaimed musician expressed her excitement about returning to the city, stating, "I'm so excited to be back in Delhi, one of my favourite cities in the world. And also, in a new venue I've never played in before, which looks incredible."
Trilogy as Emotional Allegory
As she began her performance, Anoushka unpacked the inspiration behind her trilogy of mini albums. "The story is connected across the three albums," she explained, detailing how the trilogy follows the rhythm of a complete day—from afternoon to evening in chapter one, through the night in chapter two, and into morning in the final chapter.
"I was doing this as an allegory for a deeper emotional journey," she revealed, "which was about how we move through difficulty and hard times, how we cope and how we heal."
Meaningful Musical Selections
Engaging intimately with the audience, Anoushka introduced the song Hiraeth, explaining its significance. "It's a Welsh word for a type of nostalgia, usually for a place, a longing for a home, or a memory of home. I always felt the word beautifully captures that longing you experience when you live away from home or grow up away from it."
In a heartfelt tribute to her late father, the legendary Pt Ravi Shankar, she described the inspiration behind We Return to Love. "It is inspired by my favourite evening raga, Manj Khamaj. I grew up listening to my father play it and loved performing it with him."
Honoring Musical Legacy
Discussing Fire Night, a composition by Pt Ravi Shankar, Anoushka shared, "It's actually a song of my father's. It's a beautiful old piece that was on a record of his called The Improvisations, released in the late 60s. I grew up loving this piece of music."
She noted its uniqueness in his early catalogue, explaining how it stood out among traditional hymns with its incorporation of jazz elements. "When I got together with my co-writers, Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar, it felt like we could really play this piece, and so we've developed it a little bit and made it into our own."
Enthusiastic Audience Response
Braving the evening chill, Delhiites arrived draped in stylish pherans and Kashmiri capes, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Among them was Camini Kumar, 48, a lawyer visiting from England who shared a special connection with the artist.
"I recently discovered that my late mother met Pt Ravi Shankar and he signed a one-rupee note for her dated February 19, 1966," Kumar revealed. "Although I have been listening to her music for decades, this is my first time seeing Anoushka live and she is absolutely amazing."
Ananya Tripathi, 31, who travelled from Lucknow specifically for the concert, expressed her admiration. "I've been trying to catch her live for three years now and this night has been mesmerising. I loved that she danced and enjoyed her own show, and how she honoured her band members."
Talented Musical Ensemble
Anoushka was accompanied by an exceptional group of musicians including Sarathy Korwar on drums and percussion, Tom Farmer on glockenspiel and bass, and Arun Ghosh on keyboard and clarinet. Their collaborative energy enhanced the performance, creating a rich tapestry of sound that resonated deeply with the audience.
The concert left attendees thoroughly awestruck, with many praising how Anoushka honored both her musical heritage and contemporary collaborators throughout the evening.
