Pandit Ravi Shankar

Anoushka Shankar shares her experience of scoring for the film ‘Shiraz: A Romance of India’.

Not too many know this. But the music for India’s favourite patriotic song Sare jahan se achcha is composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar!!

Believe it or not, Raakhee Gulzar spent weeks learning how to play the Sitar from the maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar himself. It was for her role of the unfulfilled housewife in Aparna Sen’s <em>Paroma .</em> Recalling the glorious time she had strumming those magical strings under the guidance of the master Sitarist Raakhee says, “There were scenes in <em>Paroma </em> where my character was shown to be playing the Sitar. Neither Aparna nor I wanted to fake it. Pandit Ravi Shankar was requested to give me Sitar lessons.”

“So 12.12.12 has done its damage! And what a loss! I just landed in Mumbai for the release of my book on my father and I heard this tragic news. <em>Teenon ‘12’ uthakar le gaye itne bade sitare ko</em>(the number 12 has taken away such a star).

Noted sitar maestro Pt <em>Ravi Shankar</em> has expired. He died in a San Diego hospital at 4.30pm (Pacific time). He is survived by his wife Sukanya and daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones, who are also in the field of music. The Indian embassy in the US confirmed the noted sitar player’s death with ambassador Nirupama Rao tweeting: “Pandit Ravi Shankar. Mourn passing of a musical genius and gentle soul. Attended his last concert Nov in Calif. He played with such passion.” The 92-year old sitar exponent had been unwell for some time and had surgery in San Diego on 7 December.