Indian-American business leader and musician Chandrika Tandon won her first Grammy at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for her album Triveni, which blends ancient Vedic chants with world music. Not many know this, but Tandon is also the sister of PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. Tandon’s seven-track album, designed as a meditative journey towards “inner healing,” earned her the prestigious gramophone in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category.
Other nominees in the category were ‘Break of Dawn’— by Ricky Kej, ‘Opus’ by Ryuichi Sakamoto, ‘Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn’ by Anoushka Shankar, and ‘Warriors Of Light’ by Radhika Vekaria.
Tandon’s collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto brought together different musical styles to present ancient Vedic chants in a modern context. Reflecting on the power of music, Tandon remarked, “Music is love, music ignites the light within all of us, and, even in our darkest days, music spreads joy and laughter.”
From Chennai to the Grammy Stage: Tandon’s Remarkable Journey
Raised in a traditional Chennai household, Tandon was immersed in music from a young age, influenced by both Carnatic music and Vedic chants. Alongside her sister, Indra Nooyi, who led PepsiCo for over a decade, Tandon’s journey into the world of music and business was shaped by her upbringing. A graduate of IIM Ahmedabad, Tandon went on to become McKinsey’s first Indian-American female partner and founded Tandon Capital Associates, a firm focused on institutional restructuring, The Indian Express report.
Tandon’s Philanthropic Initiatives
Tandon’s philanthropic efforts are also noteworthy; alongside her husband, Ranjan, she donated $100 million to the New York School of Engineering in 2015, which subsequently added “Tandon” to its name, the IE report said. This Grammy win adds another layer to her distinguished legacy, further highlighting her role as a trailblazer in both the business and music worlds.