Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar one of the leading figures in World Music today, played her first concert at the Shanmukhananda auditorium in Mumbai on Thursday 12^th December. Barely a day after the first anniversary of her late father and guru the legendary Ravi Shankar, Anoushka was in her element playing rich tributes to her father as well as tracks from her newly released album Traces of You.

Dressed in a V neck white blouse and long black baggy pants, Anoushka was in her element as she switched from one melody to another. Playing most of her tracks from her new album, which is produced by multi-award-winning musician Nitin Sawhney, the sound ranged from Indian classical work to fine western music too. She played tracks like Maya, Metamorphosis and In Jyoti’s Name among others. Each musician accompanying Anoushka showed exceptional skill while they performed to her track. Traces of You features Anoushka's half-sister Norah Jones as the sole vocalist on several songs, but at the concert, Anoushka had a band member taking Jones role. Anoushka also spoke of the horrific rape case last year and dedicated the song Metamorphosis to the victims and womanhood.

Almost two hours long, the final moments of the concert is what everyone would probably remember her for. Chasing Shadows, a track she recorded with her father’s disciple Vishwa Mohan Bhatt was the most catchy. Anoushka let each of her five musicians do a solo, from the excellent drum and percussion set to the cello, tabla and shenhai, it was one musical crescendo fans won’t forget easily. Though she couldn’t this track on her albums then, the song makes its presence felt on her new studio album.

Fans made a beeline in the hope of meeting the young musician immediately after the show. A few were lucky while others were turned away.

It was a memorable concert, one that will always be a part Mumbai’s music calendar.

By Verus Ferreira