George Harrison Films a Scene for Ravi Shankar's Raga – 10 June 1968
Monday 10 June 1968 | Film | Big Sur, California, USA
On 10 June 1968, George Harrison was filmed at a country retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Big Sur, California, for Ravi Shankar's feature film Raga. Harrison had travelled to California on 7 June, accompanied by his wife Pattie, Ringo Starr, Maureen Starkey, and Beatles road manager Mal Evans. The filming took place over two days — 10 and 11 June — with the first day devoted to footage of Harrison learning a new raga from Shankar, the two men sitting on the grass with the Pacific Ocean visible behind them.
The scene was unrehearsed and unscripted. No dialogue was prepared in advance. Harrison and Shankar simply spoke and played while cameras captured approximately thirty minutes of footage. The party returned to England on 18 June 1968.
Ravi Shankar's Raga: The Film
Raga was a feature-length documentary film about Ravi Shankar — the Indian sitar virtuoso who had become, by the late 1960s, one of the most celebrated musicians in the world. The film was directed by Howard Worth and produced by the Apple Films division of The Beatles' Apple Corps company. It documented Shankar's life, his music, and his role as a teacher and ambassador for Indian classical music to Western audiences.
The film would eventually be released in 1971, following a premiere at the New York Film Festival. It remains one of the most important documentary records of Shankar's work and of the cultural exchange between Indian classical music and Western popular culture that characterised the late 1960s.
George Harrison and Ravi Shankar: The Relationship
George Harrison had first encountered the sitar on the set of Help! in 1965. His curiosity led him to Ravi Shankar, and in the summer of 1966 he travelled to India to study the sitar formally under Shankar's guidance. The six weeks Harrison spent in India — living as a student, practising for hours each day — were among the most formative of his life.
The influence on Harrison's songwriting was profound: 'Love You To' on Revolver (1966), 'Within You Without You' on Sgt Pepper's (1967), and 'The Inner Light' (1968) were all direct products of his engagement with Indian music. Shankar later wrote that Harrison was one of the most dedicated students he had ever taught. The two men remained close friends until Harrison's death in November 2001.
Big Sur, California
Big Sur is a rugged stretch of the California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean — one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in North America. By the late 1960s it had become associated with the counterculture and with the kind of spiritual retreat that Harrison and his companions were seeking.
The Party: Pattie Harrison, Ringo Starr, Maureen Starkey, Mal Evans
Harrison was accompanied by Pattie Harrison (née Boyd), Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen Starkey, and Mal Evans — The Beatles' road manager since 1963, originally a bouncer at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Evans was one of the group's most loyal associates and was tragically shot and killed by Los Angeles police in January 1976.
June 1968: The Beatles in Context
June 1968 was a complex period for The Beatles. The group was in the early stages of recording the White Album, with sessions that had begun in late May. The atmosphere in the studio was deteriorating: Yoko Ono's constant presence was a source of friction, and the group's collective identity was beginning to fracture. Harrison's trip to California — away from Abbey Road and the Apple offices — was a brief respite from that atmosphere.
Key Facts: 10 June 1968
- Date: Monday 10 June 1968
- Location: Country retreat, Big Sur, California, USA
- Activity: Filming for Ravi Shankar's feature film Raga
- Director: Howard Worth
- Producer: Apple Films (Apple Corps)
- Scene: Harrison learning a new raga from Shankar; unrehearsed, unscripted; approx. 30 minutes of footage
- Also present: Pattie Harrison, Ringo Starr, Maureen Starkey, Mal Evans
- Travel dates: Arrived California 7 June; returned England 18 June 1968
- Film release: Raga premiered at the New York Film Festival, 1971
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film Raga?
Raga is a feature-length documentary about Ravi Shankar, directed by Howard Worth and produced by Apple Films. George Harrison appears in the film, filmed at Big Sur in June 1968. It premiered at the New York Film Festival in 1971.
Why was George Harrison in California in June 1968?
Harrison travelled to California on 7 June 1968 to film scenes for Ravi Shankar's documentary Raga at Big Sur on 10 and 11 June. He was accompanied by Pattie Harrison, Ringo Starr, Maureen Starkey, and Mal Evans. The party returned to England on 18 June.
What was George Harrison's relationship with Ravi Shankar?
Harrison began studying sitar under Shankar in 1966, travelling to India for six weeks. Shankar called him one of his most dedicated students. They remained close friends until Harrison's death in November 2001.
Who was Mal Evans?
The Beatles' road manager from 1963, originally a bouncer at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Shot and killed by Los Angeles police in January 1976.
Where is Big Sur?
A stretch of the California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Associated with the counterculture in the late 1960s.
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