‘IF FUSION HAS TO BE DONE TO SURVIVE, THAT'S SAD'

Sitarist Anoushka Shankar talks about why she makes crossover music and the importance of remaining true to herself

- NAINI THAKER

When Anoushka Shankar performed her first solo sitar recital, she was 13 years old. It was a 10-minute performance on a stage that she shared with maestros Zakir Hussain, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Vijay Raghav Rao, in an auditorium packed with 2,500 people. The occasion was the 75th birthday of her father Pandit Ravi Shankar. That was 25 years ago.

Shankar, now 38, is a six-time Grammy-nominated artiste who, much like her father, has helped popularise the sitar among a global audience today with what she calls ‘crossover music’.

In February, Shankar was in India with her latest EP Love Letters, which is probably her most personal work so far, portraying a very vulnerable and raw side of the sitarist. The collection touches upon themes like health, heartbreak and domestic upheaval. Starting April, she will be touring to commemorate the birth centenary of her father, and will be performing for the first time in London with her half-sister, multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriters, Norah Jones.

Shankar spoke to Forbes India about how classical Indian music has evolved over the years and the importance of carving a niche for herself. Edited excerpts:

Q How has classical Indian music evolved over the last 25 years?

In the 1990s, I was almost fearful to step out of the classical world because no one was really doing it. There were very few people like my dad and Zakir Hussain, who had done some very interesting and iconic collaborations. But even then, I remember my dad was given so much criticism for it. Whereas now it’s the norm; everyone collaborates and does fusion or classical fusion.

But it makes me sad if that fusion has to be done in order to survive—if you have to pair an Indian classical musician with someone else and call it a jam session in order to get an audience. That’s sad!