Winning Grammy will be a huge honour for India: Amjad Ali Khan

New Delhi: Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who has been nominated for the 2010 Grammy awards along with leading composer A R Rahman, says winning the prestigious trophy will be a great honour for the country. The 64-year-old stalwart of Indian classical music has been nominated in the category of `Best Traditional World Music Album` for the album `Ancient Sounds` along with Iraqi

soloist Rahim Alhaj. Rahman has been nominated in two categories --`Best Song written for Motion Picture, Television or Other visual media` and `Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other visual Media` for `Slumdog Millionaire`. "I feel it`s a blessing of God and I am very happy for Rahman also. It will a great honour for India whether Rahman gets it or me," Ustad Amjad Ali Khan told reporters. Khan, who is credited for taking the folk sound of Sarod into mainstream classical music, said he never thought that the album will get such response. "It`s the first duet of Sarod and an Arab Instrument Oud in which I have composed the songs. We recorded it in America but I never thought people would like it so much," he said. "Both instruments have an ancient sound and its very interesting, I really enjoyed doing it," Khan said. The veteran musician has constantly been bestowed with honours including the Padma Shri in 1975, the Padma Bhushan in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. "It took time for the world to realise the greatness of the sound of Sarod. I want to see it on the same level as instruments like Violin," he said. Khan`s album will compete with "Double Play", "Douga Mansa", "La Guerra No" and "Drum Music Land" for the Grammys, known as the Oscars of the music industry. The 52th edition of the Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 31 next year. PTI