Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar's last composition - an opera called Sukanya, inspired by a Mahabharata character after whom his wife was named - opens in the UK today (12).
Shankar worked on the opera during his last days in hospital with conductor and collaborator David Murphy.
It was completed by his daughter and disciple Anoushka Shankar after his death in 2012.
"It thrills me that this final project of my father's, about which he was so passionate, is finally coming to life," Anoushka said.
The opera tells the story from the Mahabharata of Sukanya, King Saryat's young daughter, who marries the ancient sage, Chyavana, after she accidentally blinds him.
Shankar's widow recalled the day he asked her mother the story behind her name.
"My memory is very vivid and fresh of the day when Raviji was asking my mother about the story behind my name, Sukanya, sometime in the mid-nineties. He was so excited and wanted to do an opera," she said.
The premiere takes place at the Curve theatre in Leicester and will be followed by a series of UK-wide shows with a finale at the Royal Festival Hall in London on May 19.
"Even in his final years, he was the first to think further, to want to push even more boundaries, and bring Indian classical music to the context of opera, Anoushka said.
The text of the opera (libretto) has been written by author Amit Chaudhuri. The semi-staged opera - a musical with few props - is directed by Suba Das and conducted by Murphy, who had worked closely with the sitarist-composer.
Shankar, a disciple of the legendary Baba Allauddin Khan of Maihar, collaborated with a host of musicians, including violinist Yehudi Menuhin, composer Philip Glass, singer George Harrison and saxophonist John Coltrane.
"My father was, of course, the first Indian classical musician to work with Western classical musicians, the first to write concertos for orchestra, the first to bring the music of India to a global audience," the daughter said.
The opera brings together an international set of artistes including British soprano Susanna Hurrell in the title role, Indian-born American tenor Alok Kumar, British bass-baritone Keel Watson, Brazilian baritone Michel de Souza, South African baritone Njabulo Madlala, the BBC Singers and a 60-strong London Philharmonic Orchestra.
The orchestra will also feature Indian classical instruments such as the sitar, shehnai, tabla, mridangam and ghatam.
"This opera is a standing testimony to the ultimate in the amalgamation of East meeting West, as natural as can be," Sukanya said.
Chaudhuri's story-line also draws from texts as diverse as the works of Rabindranath Tagore, T.S. Eliot and Shakespeare.
"My husband, an enigmatic genius, was a cluster of energy, creativity, love and inspiration who never ceased to surprise me in all our time together and has done it again," Sukanya said.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.