String Theory

Shankar is sprightly and alert,though his speech is a little slurred and his hearing might not be what it was. His daughter,Anoushka (in picture),is his spitting image and remains by his side throughout,helping him interpret questions. Shankar,who built his formidable career breaking norms is surprisingly perceptive and lucid when talking about the current classical music scenario in India. “Nobody has the time to listen to a seven hour concert. Now,many Indian classical musicians follow my style of presenting a raga,in a shorter and easier to register format,” says Shankar dressed in a mustard kurta churidaar.

After such an illustrious career spanning over 50 years that includes collaborations with The Beatles and unequalled celebrity status for an Indian classical musician,Shankar reminisces about what’s meant most to him over the years. “I never jammed with the Beatles. I presented Indian music on my own terms,” says Shankar firmly. His presence in film music,he says,was too little. “I composed for Gandhi ,Anuradha and Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy. I never had time for films otherwise.” Interestingly,Shankar had set the tune to the semi national anthem,Mohammad Iqbal’s Saare Jahan Se Accha in 1945,though the HMV record attributed the song to Lata Mangeshkar and referred to the composition as ‘traditional’. Shankar shrugs and states philosophically,“My music has sometimes been used illegally but I can’t always stop it.”

(Music In The Park will be held at 6 pm at Nehru Park on December 5. Entry free)