New Delhi, July 19: It's common knowledge that he began his musical journey at a very young age, that he is one of India's most celebrated musicians and that this frail 83-year-old man has for decades been India's best cultural ambassador.
But how many know that famed sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar performed at the famous Woodstock Concert, campaigned strongly against drugs, taught George Harrison and that he is close to his brother who is 12 years older to him.
Profiling the life and works of this acclaimed musician, Discovery Channel will soon be airing "Ravi Shankar: Between Two Worlds.'' Divided into two parts, the first segment will be aired on July 26 and the second segment on August 2 during the 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. prime slot.
Shown at a special screening here today, the film had Panditji's wife, Sukanya Shankar, in splits at some of the more personal incidents and Panditji, not entirely satisfied with the final effect. "I always think that it could have been better. A film is a conception of a director. It has tried to bring out the effect but many things have been left out,'' says the musician.
Filmed over two years in India and the United States, the programme brings together rare archival footage spanning seven decades of Pandit Ravi Shankar's performing life to provide a sequential account of the sitar maestro's long and unique career.

The serial also records Ravi Shankar's cherished achievement of reforming jazz saxophonist John Coltrane who gave up drugs after meeting him.
But it's not just Panditji's musical journey that "Ravi Shankar: Between Two Worlds'' talks about. It also touches upon his personal relationships - many of which are strung by music - such as his daughter, Anoushka, his elder brother, close friends and his disciples who are "more like children'' to the maestro.