Anoushka Shankar!

Listening to Pt. Ravi Shankar play, as I work on my computer, I am reminded of a performance that I attented recently at Sirifort – Pt. Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka in concert.
I hadn’t heard Anoushka perform earlier and had so far written her off as a much hyped, pretty face, in news because of her legendary father (not that I understand Indian classical music and its intense depths and soft subtleties, but I believe that I can tell good music from bad when I hear it).
The auditorium full to capacity – it was an ICCR event. Anoushka appeared in her shiny pants, short kurta attire, lending further credence to my aforementioned opinion of her. I quickly realised how biased AGAINST looks and how unfair to genes you were born with can one be.Her fingers moved effortlessly as they matched her father’s and the accompanists in their rendition. Her sitar didn’t quite sound the same as Panditji’s. It had a unique, young, sound to it.
There was energy in how she sat erect, held the sitar and played it, or in pointing technicians to manage the sound, she kept the rythm even as Panditji would pause momentarily to adjust his sitar. The accompanists and her father would challenge her by increasing the pace and she would join the game, much to everyone’s delight.
Genes? Talent and training? Perhaps all, either ways I stand corrected and she has earned herself a new fan. I am going back next time she is in town or I am in one where she is performing!

Original post here.