India’s Grammy Trailblazers: Award-Winning Singers who carved their names in music history

India is a musical kaleidoscope, with an array of vibrant and dynamic music genres. Across the years, numerous Indian artists have not only made an indelible mark on the global music stage but have also proudly carried home the esteemed Grammy Award, often known as the “Oscars of the Music World.”

A Grammy victory goes beyond a mere trophy; it encapsulates the essence of an artist’s unparalleled talent and profound contributions to the vibrant music scene with every played note and sung lyric.

Get ready to dive into the exhilarating tales of musicians who have not only made history but have also brought boundless pride to India through their remarkable achievements at the Grammy Awards.

Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro and the first Indian to claim a Grammy, holds an iconic status in the annals of Grammy history among Indian musicians. He stands among the accomplished artists who have secured Grammy trophies.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Ravi Shankar garnered five Grammy Awards, including the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award. His groundbreaking fusion of Indian classical music with Western genres not only earned him accolades but also introduced the mesmerizing beauty of the sitar and Indian ragas to audiences worldwide.

A.R. Rahman

In the entire history of Indian music, no one creates magic better than A R Rahman. As one of the select Indian singers to secure a Grammy, he stands out as the creator of unforgettable soundtracks in cinematic gems like Slumdog Millionaire, Rockstar, Rang De Basanti, and Guru, earning him the prestigious Grammy accolade twice.

His momentous achievement at the 2010 Grammy Awards Ceremony included nominations in two categories for his powerful creations in Slumdog Millionaire: the first for ‘Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media’ and the second for ‘Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media’ for Jai Ho. A.R. Rahman etched his name in history by triumphing in both categories.

Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain, a virtuoso tabla player, stands as an ambassador for classical music. His remarkable contributions to the realm of world music have been honored with Grammy Awards. These accolades were achieved through collaborative efforts with esteemed artists like Mickey Hart and Bela Fleck.

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt is renowned for creating the Mohan Veena, a modified rendition of the slide guitar. Collaborating with guitarist Ry Cooder on the album “A Meeting by the River” earned them both a Grammy Award in the World Music category.

Zubin Mehta

Bombay-born Zubin Mehta was loved for his performances as an orchestral conductor. So far, he has won five Grammys and has been nominated for many more. His performance at the Isaac Stern 60th Anniversary Celebration bagged him his first Grammy under the category ‘Best Classical Performance’, in the year 1981.

The showcase also bagged him the ‘Best Engineered Recording, Classical’ in the same year. Apart from this, he was awarded Grammys in 1982 (Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance for Verdi: Arias) and 1990 (Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist and Best Classical Vocal Performance for Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1).

Falguni Shah

The latest Indian singer to earn a Grammy nomination is Falguni Shah, and notably, she clinched victory for her album “A Colourful World” in the Best Children’s Album category in 2022, marking her inaugural Grammy win. Hailing from Mumbai, she not only bagged the prestigious award but also showcased her talent by performing at the Grammy Premier Ceremony.

Shah has previously collaborated with A.R. Rahman on the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire and joined forces with Yo-Yo Ma on the Silk Road Project. This monumental achievement resonates as a pivotal moment for brown girls worldwide, and anticipation is high for the musical wonders she will unveil in 2023!

Rickey Kej

Bengaluru-based music composer Ricky Kej, the youngest recipient of three Grammy Awards, earned his first in 2015 for the album “Winds of Samsara,” recognized as the year’s finest New Age recording.

Adding another feather to his cap, Kej won his second Grammy for his ‘Divine Tides’ album, which was nominated in the Best Immersive Audio Album category. Collaborating with Copeland, their joint project garnered another Grammy for Best New Age Album in 2022.

Neela Vaswani

Neela Vaswani achieved a unique distinction – winning a Grammy through the creation of an audiobook. Quite an unconventional route, isn’t it? Her contribution involves producing the audiobook for “I am Malala,” the autobiography of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

The audiobook, narrating the tale of a courageous young girl challenging the Taliban’s threat to education rights, earned a Grammy nomination in the ‘Best Children’s Album’ category. At the 57th Grammy Awards, Vaswani made history as the sole Indian to accept a Grammy, even though she is not an Indian singer nominated for the award. Her unconventional journey has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the Grammy stage.

Tanvi Shah

Tanvi Shah stands out among the accomplished Indian musicians, proudly claiming the title as the first Indian woman to achieve this prestigious accolade. She entered the Grammy winners’ circle as one of only three Indian female recipients from India, making history in the process.

Tanvi Shah earned her Grammy nomination in the category of Best Song Written for Motion Picture or Other Visual Media for her performance in “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, this versatile artist made her debut in Fanaa and showcases her ability to sing in multiple languages. Her Grammy win was shared with A.R. Rahman and Gulzaar for the song’s Spanish lyrics.

TH Vinayakram

Ever heard of the ghatam? Well, that’s the very instrument that earned Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram, affectionately known as Vikku, his inaugural Grammy in 1991. Beyond merely representing India on the international stage, he brought a lesser-known national instrument, the ghatam, to the forefront.

This cherished Grammy-winning Indian artist secured his first accolade for ‘Planet Drum,’ marking him as the first Carnatic musician to achieve this honor. Not widely known, Vikku embarked on his career as a percussionist at the tender age of 13. Over time, he collaborated with esteemed artists like Zakir Hussain and John McLaughlin, making his international debut in the 70s. Truly, he stands among the unforgettable Indian Grammy winners.

H. Sridhar

H. Sridhar, a renowned sound engineer, played a pivotal role in the Grammy-winning soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire. He, along with P.A. Deepak and Vivianne Chaix, shared the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010.

Recognized as one of the best sound engineers, Sridhar was the genius behind much of A.R. Rahman’s discography. Tragically, his sudden demise left the music industry in shock, and although he had long aspired to win a Grammy, he wasn’t there to witness the achievement. His passion for his art resulted in the creation of several unique musical masterpieces, some of which will live on forever.