Pt. Ravi Shankar, Anoushka to perform in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Father and daughter share a chemistry on and off stage. Going solo or playing together, sitar and music form the backbone for Pandit Ravi Shankar and Anoushka who will perform for the second consecutive year in Bangalore at a concert for the SPIC MACAY Foundation on Thursday.
And this year they will play together right from the beginning and right through the concert.
"It is difficult to be good when playing with someone like him; I don''t like it much when he is in the audience," said Anoushka, at a pre concert conference on Wednesday in Bangalore, amidst giggles and whispering into her dad''s ear as she repeated the press'' questions for her father.
But father and guru Panditji says on their performances and on merging with the audience when Anoushka plays solo: "It''s a double feeling. Her nervousness reverberates in me when I''m on stage with her. And I''m obviously happy and proud when I''m in the audience."
And they have a good word of appreciation for audiences. "Lots of people are still conversant with our music and send vibes of appreciation. We also have a lot of new and curious audiences who appreciate us."
It''s been 65 years since Panditji has been playing at concerts. And has just released their latest album ''Arpan'' dedicated to George Harrison. On November 29 last year, Panditji played a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in memory of Harrison for his family and close friends like Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who did the second half of the show. The album was released worldwide last month. "I don''t want to retire, come on!" he says with enthusiasm.
"Many considered Inner Circle my last tour. But I will play on till I can."
While terming fusion concerts and jamming up a ''western conception, but a different and interesting approach'', Panditji says "I believe in performing with people I''m used to- my daughter and accomplished students. This is not jamming. If time comes, I will certainly play with a mridangam player, but may not be with a jazz drummer." And he''s still keen on composing musical scores for films. "But film directors take it for granted that I''m not reachable because I travel."
And speaking of films, Panditji says "It was a shocking surprise" when he heard of Dev Anand''s plans to make a film based on their lives. "I really don''t want to say anything on it." But Anoushka was more forthcoming with: "We''ve heard it''s not really going to be based on our lives, but his own story. He hasn''t approached us formally on it. There''s nothing we can do about it."
Together Panditji and Anoushka will perform at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall on Thursday at 7 pm, accompanied by Tanmay Bose and Bikram Ghosh on the tabla. And Panditju promises: "None of my two concerts are the same. I always have something new."