Hyderabad|India|January'2009: Legendary virtuoso sitarist, composer Ravi Shankar was joined on stage by his younger daughter and protégé, Anoushka for the first time in Hyderabad for a performance. The father-daughter duo enthralled a packed hall at HICC, Hyderabad on Sunday evening. The event was organized by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Ltd to promote our culture.

It is long time since he performed in Hyderabad and this was his first-ever performance
together with his daughter in Hyderabad. Pandit Ravi Shankar is India’s most esteemed
musical ambassador and a singular phenomenon whose artistry crosses all cultural and musical
boundaries. Bringing them together for this most memorable performance was Andhra Pradesh
Tourism Development Corporation in association with Novotel as Hospitality Partner.

The 89 years old prolific and sought-after composer, Ravi Shankar has written numerous works
for Western collaborations, in addition to his many traditional ragas and talas. Ravi
Shankar has composed extensively for film and ballet. His scores for Satyajit Ray’s
acclaimed Apu trilogy raised film music to a new standard of excellence. He was nominated
for both a Grammy and Oscar for his original score to Gandhi, the Academy Award-winning
classic by Sir Richard Attenborough. He made history on both the British and Indian cultural
scenes with the ballet Ghanashyam, which he wrote, composed and choreographed.

Anoushka Shankar is the only artist in the world to be trained completely by her father. She
began studying with him at age nine, and at age 13 made her performing debut in New Delhi,
India. That same year, she performed on her father’s recording, In Celebration, and shortly
thereafter signed an exclusive contract with Angel/EMI. Her first solo album, Anoushka, was
released in 1998 to critical acclaim. In addition to performing with her father, Anoushka
spends much of her year touring, giving concert performances in Europe, America and Asia.
She has also composed music for the short film Ancient Marks. Anoushka has the distinction
of being the first woman to ever perform at The Ramakrishna Centre in Calcutta.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department has been organizing two festivals Taramati and Golconda to promote culture of the state. These festivals are organized on the lines of Khajuraho for
the past four years. Through these festivals, APTDC promotes Music, Dance and Theatre.

Reachout's News Bureau
 January' 2009