WINNERS of the SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA AWARD for 2009
Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar Born in a family of musicians of Banaras gharana in which Shehnai & flute are played for the last 450 years and over, Sanjeev & Ashwani manifested their strong affinity towards music at the age of seven and five. Their father Pt. Daya Shankar, himself an internationally acclaimed Shehnai player boosted his sons’ blooming talent to flourish with his personal inspiration and guidance.
Sanjeev & Ashwani also had the privilege to learn Shehnai from their grandfather, the legendary Shehnai player Pt. Anant Lal
After formal training in pursuit of proficiency of the highest order in Raga, Taal and Laya, both were awarded scholarship by the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, for their outstanding talent in the field of music. At present Sanjeev & Ashwani have been consolidating their knowledge under the able guidance of the legendary sitar maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar.
Ashwani is a Graduate in Political Science, and Sanjeev who is a Post graduate in Hindustani Classical Vocal music is presently doing research work for his M.Phil degree.
Sanjeev has had the privilege to tour the U.S.A with Pandit Ravi Shankar for the Festival of India from 2005. In the year 2003, Sanjeev gave part of the background score and also played Shehnai in the film 'Letters from Rishikesh' which was produced for the National Television of Israel. Sanjeev has recently arranged music in an album of Jain Devotional songs which was released by the honorable Swami Vidyanandji in the month of April 2006.
The Shankar brothers have to their credit a wide spectrum of performances and have mesmerized the audiences at various music festivals like Sri Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, Magh Mahotsav, Sangeet Natak Akademi Music Festival , and also in places like Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore, Allahabad, Lucknow, Poona, Gangtok, Mumbai, Chennai, Ayodhya in India , and have represented India on many international platforms in places like France, Spain, Ireland, England, Scotland, Hungary, Slovakia, Japan, Bangladesh, USA and many more to name.
In all their performances the brother duo touched the hearts of the listeners worldwide and were critically acclaimed and praised by both, the exponents and the critics of the music world.
In 2010, the two brothers joined French musician Titi Robin on his new project 'RIVER BANKS'.
Youtube Links:
Sanjeev Shankar plays in Pandit Ravi Shankar's asterclass in Salle Pleyel, Paris, 02.09.2008 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRRJ0WGnOW8
Sanjeev Shankar plays shehnai in Anoushka Shankar's 'The Gypsy : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1A0XTWYBM4
Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar play in Titi Robin's project 'Les Rives' : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ_x95YQqdg
Puriya Kalyan : An Introduction to the sound of Shehnai by Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EoZDzgzSik
Madhuvanti : Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar in a concert, playing raga Madhuvanti at Dilli Haat, New Delhi, accompanied on Tabla by Anand Shankar and Uday Mazumdar.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMX1A9MJm4A
Bhairavi : Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar play a Dhun from Banaras in Raag Bhairavi. Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQapUPtkmys
Shuddh Sarang : Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar play raga Shuddh Sarang, accompanied on Dukkad
by Anand Shankar and on tabla by Mithlesh Kumar.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1w7wMG8v1g
Multani : Sanjeev & Ashwani Shankar play raga Multani at Banaras Hindu University.
Tabla by Anand Shankar.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8L0dz2NFug
Jam with Kenji Ota : Sanjeev Shankar plays fusion music with musician friend Kenji Ota.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1svReCaraKY