More than daddy’s li’l girl

Page

sheetal

@sheetald

Rocker

Posted: 19 years ago

Anoushka Shankar is in every way her father's daughter. She plays like him, looks like him and also has the same amount of dedication. A talented artiste herself, she finds it impossible to completely step away from the shadow of her father and guru, revered sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. While she's satisfied and proud to be known as her father's daughter, she got lots of character and individuality and is an accomplished woman in her own right.

Anoushka was born in London and grew up in the US where the family shifted when she was 11. From her first stage performance at the age of 13, she's come a long way. Now, all of 22, she is recognised as a celestial pianist, a concert pianist and most recently, as a writer. Her maiden entry, Bapi: The Love of my Life is dedicated to her father.

ShaadiTimes spoke to the talented performer, Anoushka Shankar

Despite your western upbringing, how have you adapted to Indian traditions?
"It's hard to dissect everything in my life and put it down to 'western' or 'classical' or 'Indian'. Everything is an essential part of me. One thing, my parents were always strict about is that I was respectful and disciplined with my music. So I'm not sure that living in the West much altered my approach to what I do in Indian classical music. Of course, it's influenced me in many ways, such as what I enjoy listening to, or what I may compose outside the realm of classical, but I've always tried to remain true to our traditions as far as the sitar is concerned."

On life...
"One side of me is very social and the other very private. Whether in Delhi, London or New York, I love to go out. I go to Trance parties and dance my head off. I love going to a good restaurant or bar with friends and talk through the night. I try to attend a play or ballet whenever I get the chance and hear as many types of music as possible. Life in London and NY is hectic and since I spend a lot of time there, I have a lot of friends. Life in San Diego is a lot quieter, and I make the most of it by reading (books on meditation or Zen or fiction by the likes of Isabel Allende or Rohinton Mistry), taking care of my hair and body, catching up on sleep and music practice and getting back into the gym."

The ideal woman...
"My vision of an ideal woman is one who has strength, grace, passion and a capacity to love fiercely and freely. She should have a deep intelligence and quick wit, can laugh heartily, party wildly, work with dedication, stand up for herself and others, and is loyal, honourable and compassionate."

On sitar...

"The sitar was something I always enjoyed listening to, but at the young age that I started playing, I didn't have active aspirations to play it myself yet. Actually, my mom influenced me. She initiated me into Carnatic music when I was barely three. Later also, it was her idea that my father should teach me. On his part, my father had made up his mind that he wouldn't force me to learn sitar and that the desire to learn has to come from me. My mother felt that it's better to start as early as possible since children pick up quicker. I could always discontinue if I didn't like it. So I started to play, and it was only gradually that it became a part of my life. As I grew closer to it, I began to love it."

On her father...

"I always knew that my father was famous. I had been going to his concerts from as early as I can remember. I could clearly see the way people thronged to him and loved him. My mother played his records frequently when he wasn't home, so I was always very familiar with who he was other than just my father. He and I are actually very similar in a lot of ways. Even our personalities match. We both love people and humour, love life. We are highly passionate and sensitive; easily hurt but very forgiving to those we are close to. We share a love for travel, history, culture and good food, love old movies and mythology. And above all we love to perform for people. Oh God!, I could go on and on."

On her half brother and sister
She is very close to her family and relates to her half-brother, Shubho, and sisters well. Shubho, whom she did not know too well initially, "was much older, and hence seemed more like an uncle at first. However, once my parents got married, I started spending more time with him and got to know him better. Just when I started feeling that a bond was developing between us, he died. I was 11 then," Anoushka recalls. "I am very close to my half-sister Norah. We only met a few years ago but since then our relationship has evolved beautifully."

On success and living in her father's shadow
"There are people who sniff at my success because I am my father's daughter. Some say he is so good that I can never step out of his shadow. Basically, I figured out early that I would never be able to please everyone in the world since none of them want the same thing and that I should always live for myself, do what I want to do and try to be happy in my own skin. I love music and playing sitar makes me happy. I am also happy that I have done justice to my father's teaching. And if he is happy with the way I play then that's enough for me."

The future & marriage...
"There's a lot I want to accomplish before that (marriage) and coming up with a way to make a marriage work while living the type of life I lead, is not going to be easy. In a husband I would look for someone intelligent, witty, confident and comfortable in his own skin. Someone who encourages me and lends me support, someone passionate, loving and affectionate, a man who transcends social and cultural boundaries as I do, and someone I can look up to and learn from in some way. My father's stature has created a lot of expectation in me."

Edited by sheetald - 19 years ago

Quote

More than daddy’s li’l girl - Anoushka Sh

Related Topics

Explore Topics