Big B talks about Pandit Ravi Shankar : Bollywood News

Indian classical musician and world renowned sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar can solely be heralded as the one to take Indian music to the world. However, his demise yesterday sent shock waves through the industry. Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan who reportedly received a call from Panditji just weeks before the maestro's death poured his heart out on his blog reminiscing about Panditji's greatness

Big B posted, "A strange feeling crawls within me. Just last week his wife Sukanya ji had sent a message to me on my mobile, while I transited from Marrakech, Morocco to Florence in Italy. It was the first time ever that I had received a message from her. She had requested a time when she could call back as Ravi Shankar ji had wanted to talk to me. He was keeping unwell she had said and was to undergo a surgery on the Thursday. Due to the time difference I was unable to connect with her immediately and it was only the next day when I called back that she spoke most endearingly and put me on to the great maestro! I was speaking to Pt Ravi Shankar for the very first time ever on the phone. We knew each other, there were strong and long family relationships, a few casual meetings, but nothing more. Why was he wanting to speak to me now? I was puzzled. But he came on the line, spoke with great warmth, on seeing me on the television often, of my films and my fans in the house, informed me that he was going in for a surgery. Aap se baat kar ke bahut achcha lag raha hai... pata nahin aapse phir kab baat ho sake ..Thursday ko meri surgery hai â€¦ dekhiye kya hota hai! "

Big B further added, "For me though, and I am certain among the many admirers of the classical, the ultimate moments were always the 'jugal bandi' of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan on sarod, with Allah Rakha on the tabla... it was beyond magical!!"