The Shankar I acually understood. Kipling said, “… East is East, West is West, and never the twain shall meet …” But, there is an Indian composer who believed otherwise. Unlike Ravi, he was the Shankar I actually understood. I first heard his music in the early 80s and was mesmerized. And we lost this brilliant composer in 1999.
Thapson
Everyone knows of the legendary sitar virtuoso, Ravi Shankar, and his exploits popularizing Indian classical music around the world. Through the Beatles, and George Harrison, he became a household name in the West.
While I appreciate the beautiful sounds of the sitar, I never got the compositions and complexities of his music. His nephew’s music, on the other hand, was so much easier to appreciate. While also a sitar player, Ananda Shankar took a different path with his music.
My Introduction to Ananda Shankar
In ’81 or ’82, I happened on an Indian TV show. It was showcasing the talent of Ananda Shankar, featuring his interesting orchestra, his compositions, and some dance. The music they played was unlike anything I had heard before. It was a soothing mix of Indian instruments interacting with European ones. The compositions were contemporary and uncomplicated. I was mesmerized by the wonderful rhythms. The choreography of Indian contemporary dance, based on classical moves, was the icing on the cake.
I knew Indian music was not all sitar. So, it was a joy to hear these other instruments, and the unique Indian drums. Unlike Ravi Shankar, Ananda’s music was folksy and modern – easier for me to appreciate.
A Musical Experience
He weaved scenarios in your mind through his music – some joyful, others melancholy, reflecting Indian culture. Most of it related to music from Bengal, and the North East region. Fascinated, I enjoyed the show and thought, “this is what the world needs to listen to get the ‘real India’!” And you didn’t need to be a highbrow, or pretend to understand it. You got it right away, as you let it flow through you. I went out and bought one of his cassette tapes. As always, there’s no use me talking about it, so let’s listen to a sampling of Ananda Shankar here. I’ll admit some of it’s somewhat melancholy for me too. Nevertheless, here goes.
“Jumping Jack Flash”
No introduction needed. Everyone knows the Rolling Stones version. Check out Ananda Shankar’s version with the sitar lending a psychedelic feel to it.
Ananda Shankar – Topic / YouTube
“Snowflower”
Produced with Paul Lewinson, a hypnotic piece involving a subtle mixture of the sitar and the synthesizer.
Ananda Shankar – Topic / YouTube
“The River”
Ananda Shankar seems to take you on a trip on an Indian river with this piece. I’m sure it’s inspired by all rivers and waterways criss-cross his native Bengal.
magumei / YouTube
“Dancing Drums”
As the name alludes, this ones all about the drums. Ananda Shankar mixes it up with Western and traditional Indian drums.
Antony Rosano / YouTube
“Namaskar”
The name of this piece says it all. As you listen to it, it seems to be reaching out and welcoming with a traditional Indian greeting, “namaskar!” And this namaskar is presented in a expanse of Indian instruments.
“Missing You”
If this tune feels emotional, it’s meant to be just that. Ananda Shankar composed this piece as an ode to his late father, Uday Shankar. The image on the LP cover here shows his father in his dancing costume.
chuckbirth / YouTube
“Cyrus”
This one’s one of my favorites. I don’t know why. It just has that rhythm and beat to it that makes it timeless for me. That’s all I can say.
Ananda Shankar – Topic / YouTube
“Light My Fire”
Let’s close off with how we started. Another rock number, this time by The Doors. Ananda Shankar, once again, lends it an extra dose of psychadelia with the sitar. I’m sure Jim Morisson would have approved.
Ananda Shankar – Topic / YouTopic
And I want to throw this rare video clip in to bring the man to life here. Apparently its from one of his shows on an old Indian TV show. Unfortunately it’s been labelled “bollywood” when it doesn’t fall under that niche.
Bollywood vinyl records and music / YouTube
So, Who Was Ananda Shankar?
Ananda Shankar was born 11th December 1942 to Uday Shankar, and his wife Amala Shankar. Uday was a dancer, who toured the world, famous for creating dance mixing European and Indian classical styles. He was the eldest of five brothers, the youngest of whom was the famed Ravi Shankar. Which is how Ravi came to be Ananda’s uncle.
Ananda, from the earliest, started experimenting with integrating Indian and Western musical instruments and styles. In the US, he collaborated with various artists and soon earned fame for his music in the 1960s and 70s. By 1975 he had released “Ananda Shankar and His Music,” a jazz-funk mix of sitar, rock guitar, table, and other Indian drums, along with Moog synthesizers.
Back in India, he lay low through the 80s. He toured the UK in the 90s, producing new stuff which included the Hip Hop genre.
Death and Legacy
Back in Kolkata, India, Ananda had a hernia operation in March 1999. Despite success, his condition deteriorated. Admitted to the ICU, he subsequently died, at 56, on 26th March of cardiac arrest.
He left a legacy for his style of music in India which is still respected. Ananda Shankar released a dozen albums during his career. His music, charted again in the UK club circuit in the early 2000s.
I lost track of his work over the years, but there’s no doubt that I understood his music much better than the pure classical stuff from his uncle who, incidentally, died on the same date as Ananda’s birthday. India lost a great pioneer of sorts in Ananda Shankar. Who knows what more would have come from him?
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