Anoushka casts a spell on Pune with her sitar

Pune’s cool February breeze met the warm, resonant strings of a legend on Friday as Anoushka Shankar took the stage. Part of her Chapters India Tour 2026, the evening was more than just a concert — it was a celebration of a career that has redefined the boundaries of the sitar. Under a canopy of minimalist, ethereal lighting, Anoushka exuded a serene yet commanding presence. She opened with a series of meditative movements that paid homage to her classical roots, a nod to the legacy of her father, the late Pandit Ravi Shankar. As the night progressed, the set transformed. Joined by a stellar ensemble of global musicians, Anoushka masterfully blended traditional ragas with contemporary electronic soundscapes and haunting cello arrangements. The highlight of the evening was a performance from her latest trilogy, Chapter III: We Return to Light , which left the audience in a state of pindrop silence. The sitarist’s performance was a profound reminder that while her music evolves, its emotional core remains timeless.