Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Great Lives: Ravi Shankar, India's famous sitar player

Ravi Shankar, India's famous sitar player

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Ravi Shankar, India's famous sitar player

'There was something about his presence on stage - just his aura drew everyone in.' Bobby Seagull on Ravi Shankar, whom he saw perform live with his daughter Anoushka.

Ravi Shankar was born in India in 1920 and came to prominence just as India gained independence from Britain in 1947. He was initially a dancer and then a virtuoso sitarist and composer, and became famous internationally because of his collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison and the Beatles.

Bobby Seagull's parents came from Kerala, and while Ravi Shankar's music came from the north, Bobby still remembers hearing him play growing up. There are early clips of Ravi Shankar explaining the sitar, plus George Harrison's account of their North American tour. Joining the conversation is biographer Oliver Craske, author of Indian Sun who knew Ravi well. He counts up in the programme how many relationships Ravi may have had.

The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde.

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Ravi Shankar, India's famous sitar player

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