(97 min; 1971; English/Hindi)
Director: Howard Worth

Shot in the second half of the 1960s by Howard Worth, the documentary captures the famous sitarist in India with his mentor, on the banks of the Ganges, before telling the story of his breaking of new ground in America and of his influential friendships with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison, the spiritually awakened guitarist of the Beatles. With illuminating reflections on Hinduism, on the transmission of traditional knowledge, and on intercultural dialogue, “Raga” analyses the thirst for spirituality and appetite for new horizons which the youth culture of the time were engaged in. The keystone of the screenplay, Ravi Shankar's performance at the legendary Monterey Festival, amply attests to this phenomenon. A profound and richly illustrated piece of cinematography which stands amongst the great world music documentaries, like "Tropicalia", the film devoted to the Brazilian avant-garde of the 60's, and "El Gusto", the touching panorama devoted to the Algerian chaâbi.