In the late 1960s, a young sitar player from Kolkata, Ananda Shankar, visited the US. There, he met legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. This led to jam sessions which lasted over a week in a Beverly Hills hotel.

Hendrix was so impressed that he suggested they record an album together. But Ananda, unsure of what lay ahead, declined. Instead, he followed his dream — fusing Indian classical music with Western psychedelic rock, funk, and electronic music.

In 1970, he released his debut album on Reprise Records. Blending sitar with a Moog synthesiser, the album included raga-infused covers of Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Light My Fire. It was experimental, fresh, and ahead of its time.

Although his music didn’t achieve mainstream fame, it gradually gained cult status. Decades later, critics hailed it as a pioneer of world music fusion, and his album was listed among the ‘1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die’.

Born into a family of legends — his uncle was Ravi Shankar — Ananda struggled to carve his own path. Initially torn between learning the sitar and the sarod, he ultimately trained under Pandit Lalmani Mishra at Banaras Hindu University.

Returning to India in the early 1970s, he created an orchestra for his fusion music. His first big break came through All India Radio’s Yuva Vani, which led to films like Calcutta 71 and Padatik, where his sound received acclaim.

Filmmaker Mrinal Sen recognised his talent and hired him to create tracks that won national awards. Meanwhile, Ananda’s live performances introduced audiences to psychedelic light shows and dancers, creating an unforgettable audiovisual experience.

In 1975, he released Ananda Shankar And His Music, a landmark album. Tracks like Streets of Calcutta and Dancing Drums showcased his bold fusion of Indian classical instruments with jazz, rock, and funk rhythms.

By the 1980s, his music frequently played on Doordarshan and All India Radio. In the 1990s, UK DJs rediscovered his work, influencing the Asian Underground movement and artists such as the State of Bengal, leading to their collaborative album in 2000.

Ananda Shankar passed away in 1999, leaving behind a genre-defying legacy. He once said, “My dream is to break barriers — through music, love, and compassion.” Decades later, his sound still inspires musicians worldwide.