Shankar, who earned international recognition when he received nominations for a Grammy and an Academy Award for Sir Richard Attenborough’s "Gandhi" has become one of India’s most prolific music composers with over 26 feature films, including the Satyajit Ray’s "Apu Trilogy".

He has won nine Filmfare Awards (“Anari,” “Mera Naam Joker”) and three Grammy Awards for “West Meets East” in 1967; “Concert for Bangladesh” (1972 Album of the Year); “Full Circle-Carnegie Hall 2000” (2001 Best World Music Album). The late George Harrison who collaborated with Shankar, referred to him as the Godfather of World Music.