Mumbai, Dec 6, 2025: Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar has shared her distress over the mishandling of her instrument during an Air India flight, prompting a formal apology from the national carrier.
Shankar took to Instagram on Wednesday to highlight the incident, revealing that the top of her sitar was out of tune, despite being securely packed in a special case. She said, “In 15 or 17 years of traveling with this instrument, nothing like this has ever happened. How could this happen when I have special cases and you charge a handling fee?”
Captioning her video, Shankar added, “Devastated and truly disturbed by @airindia’s treatment of my sitar. How does damage like this happen without carelessness? I’ve flown thousands of times on other airlines without a single peg going out of tune. It’s sad that an Indian instrument isn’t safe with its own national carrier.”
Celebrities Respond
The video quickly went viral, attracting support from many prominent figures. Rapper Abhijay Negi (Encore ABJ) commented, “@airindia y’all should be embarrassed.” Comedian Zakir Khan called the incident “extremely heartbreaking”, while acclaimed singer-composer Papon lamented, “Genuine care feels so rare these days… it’s as if the very act of caring has faded from our lives! This is so heartbreaking @airindia.”
Air India Responds
Following public attention, Air India reached out with an apology and pledged compensation for repair costs. Anoushka Shankar shared an update on Instagram on December 4, 2025, stating that her sitar “may be saved” thanks to the repair expertise of Ajay Rikhiram (@rikhiramoriginals).
She added, “I hope this can mark a change in the way musical instruments and all other precious goods are handled—giving them the care they deserve.”
Shankar emphasized her hope that the airline would implement policy changes to ensure safer handling of instruments and other fragile items, not just in her case but for all passengers.
Public Sentiment
Fans and music enthusiasts applauded Shankar’s initiative to raise awareness about the safe handling of musical instruments during flights. Many have expressed hope that Air India will improve its procedures, highlighting the importance of preserving India’s cultural heritage.
