Chandrika Tandon, a Chennai born Indian-American businesswoman and philanthrophist, has won her first Grammy at the 67^th Annual Grammy Awards 2025 in Los Angeles. The 71-year-old musician and vocalist claimed the award in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category for the album ‘Triveni’. It is a soulful captivating blend of ancient chants and world music.

To those who do not really know, Chandrika Tandon is the elder sister of Indra Nooyi the former CEO of PepsiCo. Indra Nooyi has been ranked among the world’s most powerful women multiple times, she is also a member in the boards of Amazon and International Cricket Council (ICC).

Coming over to Chandrika, the first time Grammy awardee has won various awards owing to her integrity and leadership. The long list includes the Gallatin Medal, Walter Nichols Medal, and the Polytechnic Medal. Until very recently, the Americans for the Arts announced Chandrika the 2018 recipient of BCA Leadership Award.

Talking about her music career, Chandrika is a composer and vocalist who is trained in Hindustani, Carnatic and Western traditions. This year is her second nomination at the Grammys. Her first full length studio album Soul Call came in 2009, for which she was nominated for Best Contemporary Music Album at the 2011 Grammys.

The second studio album Soul March was released in 2013 and the third was Soul Mantra (2014). Chandrika’s fourth studio album came in 2017, titled Shivoham: The Quest. The fifth studio album, “Ammu’s treasures” released in 2023.

Triveni was her sixth album released on 30^th August 2024, for which Chandrika grabbed her first Grammys. It is an album comprising of seven tracks that aims to promote inner healing through Vedic chants, a meditative journey among the listeners. Triveni is made in collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto. It brings together the distinct music styles of all. The seven tracks include: Pathway to Light, Chant in A, A journey within, Aether’s Serenade, Ancient Moon, Open Sky, and Seeking Shakti.

Triveni won it big at the Grammys this year, when Chandrika was competing with some of the prominent names that include producer Ricky Kej for ‘Break of Dawn’, sitar player Anoushka Shankar for ‘Chapter II: How Dark it is before Dwan’, and the Indian-origin British artist Radhika Vekaria for ‘Warriors of Light’ and late Japanese Maestro Ryuichi Sakamoto for ‘Opus’.

In an early social media post, Chandrika wrote, “We wouldn’t be here except for the incredible support of so many! There are much spectacular fellow musicians I met along the way, many nominees and many not…And I want to tell you ALL how much joy you created for me and the world with your artistry. Thank you.”

In her acceptance speech, Chandrika while expressing her love and gratitude for music said, “Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter, and let’s all be surrounded by love, light and laughter. Thank you for the music, and thank you to everyone who makes music.”  

Speaking to the reporters backstage after her win, Chandrika described the moment as surreal. She said, “It feels amazing. The fact that we won this is really an extra special moment for us. There were fabulous musicians who were nominated with us.”