The godfather of world music, legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar introduced the
sounds of India to the West and helped revolutionise The Beatles. Born in the
ancient holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges, Shankar studied
in Paris before becoming an apprentice under the strict regime of Indian
musician Allauddin Khan and starting playing concerts in 1939. He composed
soundtracks to Bollywood films, founded the National Orchestra and taught Indian
music to jazz legend John Coltrane, before meeting George Harrison and Paul
McCartney in 1966. It led to Harrison play...