Annapurna Devi
Mandala Arts and India Development Service in Chicago presents '6-A Akash Ganga' film screening: Story of musician Annapurna Devi
Mandala South Asian Performing Arts has partnered with India Development Service to present “6-A Akash Ganga,” an award-winning film about legendary musician Annapurna Devi, the widow of renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar.
Screenings will take place Saturday, October 25 at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, and Sunday, October 26 at Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 75th St., Woodridge.
For years, maestros waited in hope for Annapurna Devi—a legendary classical musician and unparalleled guru—to accept them as disciples.
Even George Harrison of The Beatles sought special permission just to hear her practice. Yet, in the mid-1950s, she made a profound decision: to stop performing altogether to protect her marriage to the world-famous sitarist Ravi Shankar, who had grown uneasy with the growing acclaim she was receiving.
Her disciple, Nityanand Haldipur, cuts through the myths to tell the story of a matchless guru in a documentary film directed by Nirmal Chander.
Produced by the Annapurna Devi Foundation, the film is in English and Hindi with English subtitles. Chander participates in a Q&A session following each screening.
“6-A Akash Ganga” was awarded Best Documentary at the 2024 Jagran Film Festival, Best Film at Film Southasia 2024, Best Indian Documentary Film at the 2024 Mumbai International Film Festival, and feature documentary runner-up at the 2025 South Asian Film Festival of Montreal.
A recipient of three national awards, Chander has worked in the field of nonfiction for the last three decades as an editor, director, and producer, winning multiple awards. His films have been telecast on BBC Online and Indian TV channels.
His documentary “Moti Bagh” was an Oscar entry from India in 2019. More information is available on his website, uphillfilms.com.
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