Chitravina N. Ravikiran

A child prodigy turned tireless composer, master of the chitra veena, and a prolific composer, Chitravina N. Ravikiran is the kind of musician who inspires legends during his lifetime. There's the story that he gave a non-stop, 24-hour recital when he was just 18 years old (true). There's the story about his concert debut -- at age 2 (also true). Ravikiran has mastered and composed in nearly all the talas of the Carnatic tradition, and he's branched out to fusion collaborations including 1994's Mumtaz Mahal with V.M. Bhatt and Taj Mahal. He also happens to be one of India's -- and the world's -- greatest living musicians.