3 shots at the grammys

As Amjad Ali Khan, Zakir Hussain and AR Rahman vie for the Grammys, India eyes a hattrick.

With four nominations for Indian artists at the 52nd Grammy award ceremony this year, India has never stood a better chance at bringing home more than one golden gramophone. The annual ceremony for the musical awards will take place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on January 31, 2010.

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AR Rahman has been nominated in two categories, for his Oscar-winning soundtrack Jai Ho!,from the film Slumdog Millionaire. His first nomination is in the ‘Best Song for Motion Picture, Television and other Visual Media’ category, while the second is in the ‘Best Soundtrack for Motion Picture’. About Jai Ho! at the Oscars, Rahman said, “There had been speculation here that we would not receive the award as the film’s music is very Indian. When I got the first award, I was numb.”

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who is currently on tour in London, has been nominated for his instrumental contribution to the album Ancient Sounds in the Best Traditional World Music Album category. Khan says he got the news from his sons. “My first reaction was to thank God and my parents for their blessings.”

Zakir Hussain, who won a Grammy in February this year for The Global Drum Project has been nominated in the Best Classical Crossover Album category for The Melody of Rhythm. Honoured Hussain said, “I pray that Ustadji and AR win in their category. It does look like our chances are three times brighter.”