About Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar KBE, whose name is often preceded by the title Pandit and "Sitar maestro", was an Indian musician and a composer of Hindustani classical music. He was the best-known proponent of the sitar in the second half of the 20th century and influenced many other musicians throughout the world.
Connect with Ravi Shankar's life
- How would you describe the music of Sitar?
- Could you share your experience of doing live concerts in India?
- Have you felt any variation in response among the people you perform for?
- What kind of relationship have you had with critics?
- Do you react to criticism?
- How was Paris back in the year 1929?
- What impact did Paris have on building up your personality?
- What were the things that you have watched as a child that you shouldn’t have while living in Paris?
- What role did your brother, Uday Shankar play in your life?
- How and when did you start learning to play sitar?
- What role did Baba Allauddin Khan play in your life?
- What was the impulse that helped you to add creativity in your music?
- Did you follow any script while performing?
- What distinguishes a great performer from an ordinary one?
- Would you say a person who was not a good human being could be a good musician?
- How important is the response of the audience to you?
- What do you look forward to the rest of your life?
- Did you ever feel frustrated by your life?
- How does it make you feel to receive the Bharat Ratna?
- How does it feel to receive awards?
- What era of the musical journey has given you the most satisfaction?
- What was it like to relive your life while writing the book ‘Raag Mala’?
- Why do you think your personal life was volatile?
- Why did you say that your life has been like a butterfly style existence?
- How did you feel when you first met Sukanya?
- Why didn’t you pursue Sukanya for a long time after meeting her?
- How would you describe your life?
- Could you tell us about how your daughter Anoushka was born?
- Could you tell us something about your relationships?
- Do you regret not being a part of Anoushka’s early age of growing up?
- When did you meet Anoushka for the first time?
- When did you decide to get married with Sukanya?
- What did Sukanya bring to your life?
- What is the meaning of the word classical?
- Is it true that you felt disturbed with the Indian audiences initially?
- What do you have to say about the criticism you received in the initial phase of your musical career?
- Could you share the story of meeting Mohammad Rafi for the first time?
- Could you share the story behind the composition of the song ‘sare jahan se acha’?
- When did you return to the Global stage of classical music?
- What according to you was your role in the Indian classical music?
- How was your experience of being a Guru in the US?
- How was your musical journey initially?
- What is your contribution to the common people who look forward to watching your live concerts?
- Do you think that film music is bringing down the scope of classical music?
- What is your way of music composition?
- What was your role in collaborating with traditional and contemporary forms of music?
- Could you share your memories of your early days in the US?
- What struggle you had to go through in order to gain popularity among western audiences?
- Could you share the technique of playing Tanpura?
- What is Raga?
- How are micro notes used in Indian music?
- Could you elaborate on the theme of Raga?
- What is Alap in classical music?
- Could you elaborate on the various forms of raga?
- Could you say something about yourself?
- What role did Allauddin Khan play in your life?
- Could you tell us a bit about your training under Allauddin Khan?
- Could you elaborate the functionalities of a Sitar?
- Why do you think many people find it difficult to learn to play sitar?
- Would you ever try uniting Indian music with western music?
- Do you think there is any similarity between Indian music and flamenco?
- Which is your all-time favourite song?
- When did you first meet Yehudi Menuhin?
- Did you ever try experimenting with western music?
- It is true that Annapurna Devi influenced you to choose sitar?
- What was the awareness of Indian classical arts in Europe back in 1930?
- Why do you think there was a lot of criticism in the initial times of your musical journey?
- Would you say that you had a bohemian lifestyle?
- Are there any regrets?
- How strong was George Harrison’s role in your career?
- Could you say a few words about the Gurukul system in India?
- What did you realised in your later life?
- Did you ever take drugs?
- How do you feel about the fact that millions of young people look up to you?
- How do you see your future?
- Is it true that you always experimented with music?
- Were you satisfied with your music composition for the film Gandhi?
- How difficult was it to compose music for the western orchestra?
- Could you elaborate on your work with the western musicians?
- What is ‘sadhana’?
- Could you elaborate on the anatomy of a Sitar?
- Do you see a contradiction between the composer and the musician in you?
- What helped you to gain popularity in the 1960’s?
- How is a Sitar different from a guitar?
- Who and which are your sources of inspiration?
- Could you tell us about your orchestral composition for AIR?
- Could you tell us about your new orchestral composition?
- Did you mix western and Indian music in your composition?
- Was it difficult for western musicians to follow the rhythm of your compositions?
- Did people acknowledge your work in your initial musical journey?
- Which were the memorable concerts in your life?
- Which were your favourite records?
- Which are your favourite compositions?
- Could you share your experience of doing live concerts in India?
- How was Paris back in the year 1929?
- What were the things that you have watched as a child that you shouldn’t have while living in Paris?
- What role did your brother, Uday Shankar play in your life?
- How and when did you start learning to play sitar?
- How does it make you feel to receive the Bharat Ratna?
- How does it feel to receive awards?
- How would you describe the music of Sitar?
- Have you felt any variation in response among the people you perform for?
- What kind of relationship have you had with critics?
- What impact did Paris have on building up your personality?
- What role did Baba Allauddin Khan play in your life?
- What was the impulse that helped you to add creativity in your music?
- Did you follow any script while performing?
- How important is the response of the audience to you?
- Did you ever feel frustrated by your life?
- What era of the musical journey has given you the most satisfaction?
- What was it like to relive your life while writing the book ‘Raag Mala’?
- Why do you think your personal life was volatile?
