The Southbank Centre celebrates Indian musician, composer and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar

A series of free displays, workshops and performances take place during Easter to celebrate the centenary of Indian musician, composer, educator and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar

On April 7, a mass Sitarathon, the chance to create rangoli art and a dance workshop with Sujata Banerjee Dance Company will take place at Southbank Centre for their celebration called Shankar 100.

More than 100 dancers chosen by Ravi Shankar’s wife Sukanya Shankar open the Ravi Shankar Centenary concert with musicians from India and around the world performing alongside Southbank Centre Associate Artist Anoushka Shankar, Norah Jones and Nitin Sawhney.

On April 11, What You Need To Know: Ravi Shankar brings together Sukanya Shankar with family, friends and disciples for an in-depth look at Shankar’s life and music.

Indian Sun: Highlights from the Ravi Shankar Archives explores the life and legacy of a global musical icon, showcasing significant items belonging to Shankar including personal belongings that accompanied him on stage for his last performance in 2012 and a unique, rare custom-made Kanai Lal sitar.

This intimate display also contains archive photographs, unseen film footage and correspondence between Shankar and George Harrison giving audiences a new understanding of Shankar’s word.

A series of film screenings curated by Anoushka Shankar in partnership with the BFI takes place from March to April including Alice in Wonderland, Monterey Pop, Pather Panchali and Raga: A Film Journey Into the Soul of India.

Ravi Shankar’s association with Southbank Centre goes back more than 60 years to his first performance in Royal Festival Hall in 1958 which began a lifelong relationship with the venue, including several performances and significant premieres over the years.

Gillian Moore CBE, Director of Music, Southbank Centre, said: “Shankar 100 is a true celebration of a musician who brought the great tradition of Indian Classical Music to a global audience.

“Women take the lead with Anoushka Shankar, Sukanya Shankar and Norah Jones contributing to the centenary events and later in the year, SitarFest showcasing the brilliant female sitarists who are continuing to explore the instrument so closely associated with the great sitar maestro.

“Our neighbours at the BFI celebrate Ravi Shankar’s legacy as a film composer, and in November, Ravi Shankar’s friend Zubin Mehta conducts London Philharmonic Orchestra and Anoushka Shankar 40 years after Mehta collaborated with her father on the world premiere of his Raga-Mālā.”