Shankar?

[imdaly]

Okay, so the answer is probably something very simple and obvious, but this has been bothering me since Episode 1.

Anyone notice during the credits to the episodes, the following text has shown:

This has been shown in every episode so far (I believe).

So my question is: Who's "Shankar", and what is their role in this show??

It's been driving me crazy!

 

[AcidTWister]

Narrator maybe? for the "Previously, on Heroes.." part.

 

[imdaly]

But isn't that Suresh that does the voice-overs?

 

[AcidTWister]

Yeah, the ones at the beginning that actually have some meaning to them But it's a gruffer, deeper voice that says "Last time on heroes" and "Next week on heroes."

 

[Marc]

Probably just a singer's stagename, the music might use his voice at stages without actual lyrics.

 

[hlbimage]

Narrator maybe? for the "Previously, on Heroes.." part.

I thought the narrator was Sendhil Ramamurthy.

 

[Lando7763]

Shankar is an Indian surname, like Patel, or Smith.

Shankar himself has done VO work before, but I forget the series. Another famous one-named actor was Mako. He did the voice of Aku on Samurai Jack, and he was the narrator for the opening of Dexter's Lab. He was supposed to be Splinter for the new TMNT CGI movie, but he died a few months ago.

 

[Bat Brain]

I thought that was the guy who was singing during that Indian song they played in the episode.

 

[WallCrawl]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar

Ta da.

 

[Lando7763]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar

Ta da.

Without even reading the article. Ravi Shankar is a musician, and most notably, the father of Norah Jones. To my knowledge, he's doesn't have much of an acting career, and why start now?

Shankar is a last name, people. Simple as that. There are tons of celebrities who go by, or are more famously known by last name.

 

[WallCrawl]

Without even reading the article. Ravi Shankar is a musician, and most notably, the father of Norah Jones. To my knowledge, he's doesn't have much of an acting career, and why start now?

Shankar is a last name, people. Simple as that. There are tons of celebrities who go by, or are more famously known by last name.

"With the Voice of Shankar" appears under the music credits, so I would assume his music (vocals) were used in the show.The link was posted so people would know who he is, and then easily extrapolate for themselves why he's listed under the music credits. No one said anything about Ravi Shankar the musician actually acting on the show.

 

[Lando7763]

Then why not go by his full name? It's what he's done his entire career. People here are familiar enough with him. Michael Jackson isn't going to just start going by "Jackson," neither is Barbara Streisand. The Judds go by last name when performing together, but that's how they started out. They didn't just change it, mid-career.

If we're "assuming," then why not "assume" that it's not RAVI Shankar? It's not like he's the only person in the world with that name. In India, it's as common as "Patel," or "Smith" here.

Am I a "know it all?" Hell, no. I could be wrong as hell, and am not pretending to know who it is. I've got as much proof to say it's not him, than anyone else has to say it is, which is nothing, on both ends. All I'm saying is have an open mind, and don't just accept the first thing someone shoves down your throat.

What I am, though, is open-minded enough to realize that just because the last name is "Shankar" doesn't automatically make him Ravi.

 

[gambitfire]

I think Shankar will probably show up and play Mohinder's father in the six months ago episode.

 

[WallCrawl]

Then why not go by his full name? It's what he's done his entire career. People here are familiar enough with him. Michael Jackson isn't going to just start going by "Jackson," neither is Barbara Streisand. The Judds go by last name when performing together, but that's how they started out. They didn't just change it, mid-career.

If we're "assuming," then why not "assume" that it's not RAVI Shankar? It's not like he's the only person in the world with that name. In India, it's as common as "Patel," or "Smith" here.

Am I a "know it all?" Hell, no. I could be wrong as hell, and am not pretending to know who it is. I've got as much proof to say it's not him, than anyone else has to say it is, which is nothing, on both ends. All I'm saying is have an open mind, and don't just accept the first thing someone shoves down your throat.

What I am, though, is open-minded enough to realize that just because the last name is "Shankar" doesn't automatically make him Ravi.

If it were any other less known Shankar, they would have to legally credit the person by their full name. It's as simple as that.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That doesn't seem right. Actors and performers get credited under all kinds of names, and not all of them are very famous.

 

[Lando7763]

If it were any other less known Shankar, they would have to legally credit the person by their full name.

Where did you study law? I've heard of grasping at straws, but this is bloody ridiculous. There is no law on record that says how a celebrity's name is displayed in a work he or she is a part of. Hell, some even chose to go uncredited, or under psuedonym. Someone better go warn Chris Gaines, The Artist, and Nicholas Coppola, I mean Garth Brooks, Prince Rogers Nelson, and Nicholas Cage, for obviously breaking the law. You too, Paul Hewson, this "Bono" thing has gone on long enough.



For f**k's sake people, lighten up. Someone you don't know, on the internet, shoots a hole in a completely irrelevant theory, and you all react like someone fed your dog tainted kibble.



I never said I knew the answers, but if anyone's gonna argue that they do, provide some proof, and shut everyone else up. Don't just accept the first thing that someone throws at you.



I'm done with this thread, but apparently some feelings have been hurt somewhere, from this deeply personal topic. Meh. I'll leave the leftovers for whoever wants them...

 

[WallCrawl]

That doesn't seem right. Actors and performers get credited under all kinds of names, and not all of them are very famous.

True. To re-word, I simply meant that it would be safe to assume that it was Ravi Shankar being credited since he is the most famous person to be known simply as "Shankar." Anyone else with the same name or the same moniker would most likely have to be credited differently to avoid confusion or legal conflict. If someone was named Madonna Jones, I doubt her voice would be credited simply as "Madonna."

For actual proof, in Episode 2 at the 8:42 mark (at least in my downloaded version of the ep; the part where Hiro teleports to New York and runs away as he steals a comic since he has no money) you hear Ravi Shankar's vocals over a remixed version of indian music with contemporary urban beats. I would assume that's why Ravi Shankar is only credited for voice under the music credits.

 

[Lt. Figgnuts]

I think Shankar will probably show up and play Mohinder's father in the six months ago episode.

They've already got someone else cast for that role. I forget his name, but yeah.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, Mohinder's daddy was shown in a picture already and it wasn't Ravi Shankar.

I hope Mohinder comes back soon. He's a good character.

 

[Gryphoenix]

Lakshminarayanan Shankar (born April 26, 1950), also known as L. Shankar, Shankar or Shenkar, is a Tamil Indian violinist, vocalist and composer.

I found a interview with Wendy and Lisa from a journalist from Rolling Stone, I believe. Anyhow, they mention doing work with the Shankar that works with Peter Gabriel. So I wikapedia'd him...

 

[nausicaa]

He does the "vocals" in the background music. I can't explain it properly, if I could you'd get it straight away.

 

[Captain_BluTac]

[YT]yAvJQ567egc[/YT]

This theme is used a lot on Heroes (it's part of the opening credits) and the part that sounds like a wind instrument is Shankars voice and it's amazing, it doesn't even sound human.

 

[shoelessthunder]

THANK YOU Gryphoenix and Captain BluTac.
Just looking at this thread gave me a headache. Haha I wish I came here sooner to clear up this confusion.
Yeah, Shankar is the voice in that main Heroes theme and a couple other tracks I belive, done for the OST.
Ravi Shankar is not even a vocalist, so...??? He wouldn't be doing vocals on pretty much anything, ever. And if he did, he'd be credited with his full name, because that's what he always goes by.
It's kind of irrelevant how famous he is since it doesn't say '...with Sitar by Ravi Shankar.'
Cause that's what he plays.
Holy crap. Haha

Edit: Sorry! And you too nausicaa!!

 

[knifeedgedave]

This will back up the previous poster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Shankar

 

[TheAQU4M4N]

This theme is used a lot on Heroes (it's part of the opening credits) and the part that sounds like a wind instrument is Shankars voice and it's amazing, it doesn't even sound human.

thanks for clearing that up, i totally though Shankar was a new character or something reminded me of the Shredder from TMNT for some wierd reason.