Ravi Shankar

I believe in one thing: that anyone who is able to do something good for someone, I mean, should be praised.

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Ah, 'Pather Panchali' was the most inspiring film that I wrote music for, and it was so spontaneously done. I saw the film, composed on the spot, along with myself and only four other musicians, and everything was done within 4-1/2 hours, I think an all-time record anywhere.

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There are thousands of ragas, and they are all connected with different times of the day, like sunrise or night or sunset. It is all based on 72 of what we call 'mela' or scales. And we have principally nine moods, ranging from peacefulness to praying, or the feeling of emptiness you get by sitting by the ocean.

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'Ravi' means 'sun.' It's a Sanskrit original word. And 'Shankar' is another name of Shiva, one of the holy trinity god that we worship.

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I was admired by all these hippies, and it was wonderful playing at Monterey and Woodstock, performing for half a million people.

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I was invited for the first Woodstock. Actually, I started the programme.

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My music has a very spiritual background, a sanctity that is almost like worship.

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Quotes by Ravi Shankar