Grammy nominations for Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussan

Three of the five albums nominated in the World Music Category for the 44th Grammy Awards have Indian influences.

Two-time Grammy winner Pandit Ravi Shankar's contemporary album Full Circle: Carnegie Hall 2000, featuring daughter Anoushka, is one of the contenders.

Punjabi percussionist Johnny Kalsi is nominated as part of his band Afro Celt Sound System for Volume 3: Further in Time. And an album recorded in Mumbai is also nominated.

John McLaughlin was in Mumbai for a reunion concert with his band Shakti and his album Remember Shakti/Saturday Night in Bombay was recorded in Mumbai in December 2000. This Indian fusion ensemble includes Ustad Zakir Hussain on tabla.

The 44th Grammy Awards will be held in February in Los Angeles.

Ravi Dewan ropes in Suniel

Ravi Dewan has signed on Suniel Shetty for his second film Anarth.

Dewan, better known as Masterji, the man behind the action scenes in over 200 films, is putting aside the failure of his first directorial venture, Vinashak. He says his latest film Anarth was written with Suniel Shetty in mind.

Zoya follows Farhan’s footsteps

The success of Dil Chahta Hai has inspired director Farhan Akhtar's sister, Zoya, to branch out on her own.

She has now penned a script and hopes to have Farhan himself direct it.

An award for Usha Mangeshkar

Usha Mangeshkar, the younger of the two high profile siblings Lata and Asha, is proud recipient of the first Kavi Pradeep Samman, instituted in memory of late lyricist Pandit Pradeep.

Pandit Pradeep, who is immortalised through his patriotic songs -- Ai mere waton ke logon and Door hato, ae duniyawalon... had also penned the lyrics for one of Usha Mangeshkar's biggest successes Jai Santoshi Maa.

The success now seems magnified for Mangeshkar who was bestowed with the award because of her excellent rendition of the devotional songs in Jai Santoshi Maa.

Compiled by: Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh