Anoushka Shankar paid tribute to her father Ravi Shankar at a three-day festival hosted by the Ravi Shankar Centre in Delhi. The musical evening featured iconic compositions and left her feeling emotionally fulfilled
Pandit Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar
Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar proudly placed Indian classical music on the global stage. To honour his legacy, the Delhi-based Ravi Shankar Centre presented its annual festival at its premises in Chanakyapuri. The Centre, which was Pandit Ravi Shankar’s humble abode, came alive during the three-day festival held outdoors for an invited audience.
Pandit Ravi Shankar tribute festival
The highlight of this festival was the musical ensemble put together by Pt. Ravi Shankar’s wife Sukanya, daughter Anoushka Shankar and senior disciple Pt. Shubhendra Rao. The ensemble comprised six musicians, including sitarist Shubhendra, sarodist Aayush Mohan, violinist Padma Shankar, flautist Ravichandra Kollur, mridangist B.C. Manjunath and tabla artiste Anubrata Chatterji.
The 90-minute event kickstarted with a recording of the sitar maestro singing the Sanskrit shloka ‘Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu…’ in Raag Bhupali. “Whenever Dad picked up his sitar, I would keep aside all of my work and simply sit beside him,” recalls Anoushka.
Anoushka Shankar on honouring her father's legacy
From presenting pieces on Ganesha in Raag Aiman to violin and flute solo segments, to the classic composition ‘Jaane Kaise Sapno Mein’ from the 1960 film Anuradha, and ‘Fire Night’, and concluding with the composition ‘Spring’ based on Raag Bahar from Pandit Ravi Shankar’s dance drama Ghanshyam, the evening transitioned into a lively celebration of classical music. “Honouring and celebrating Dad’s legacy with this ensemble is an emotionally fulfilling journey for me. It brought back fond memories from the good old days!” says Anoushka.
Anoushka on facing sexism
Last year, in an Instagram post, she opened up about the sexist comments she faces online and ended the note with celebrating her body that has endured so much. In an interview with mid-day, she incisively mentioned that social media has “normalised cruelty.” “There are things people wouldn’t say to your face but will type on a post. The decency is gone.”
But Anoushka is not taken aback by the rampant sexism. She has been dealing with this for decades. “I faced misogyny at 14, 15, 16 years, during press shoots and publicity. It’s so messed up. That’s why I speak about it now. I’m in my 40s, and I don’t give a f**k. I can say things I couldn’t at 16. I tell them so that the next line of women doesn’t have to go through what we did.”
Writing, for her, has become another form of catharsis. “When something flares up, I write. Sometimes the writer in me takes over from the musician. Words can give you closure in ways music can’t.” Maybe she could write a book, someday? “One day, I want to.”
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