On the occasion of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s 75th birth anniversary, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) hosted a special musical tribute celebrating the legendary tabla maestro’s extraordinary legacy. Curated by renowned percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, the evening brought together some of the finest musicians associated with Zakir Hussain’s work, Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Subramaniam, Suresh Wadkar and Sivamani, to honour the maestro through music that spanned ghazal, film compositions, Natya Sangeet and world rhythms.
In conversation with THE WEEK, Qureshi reflects on the idea behind the event, Zakir Hussain’s enduring legacy, and what audiences can expect from this unique celebration.
As the curator of this celebration marking Ustad Zakir Hussain’s 75th birth anniversary, what can audiences expect from the showcase?
This celebration is for Zakir Bhai’s 75th birthday, and I wanted to do something very different from the tribute we held earlier during his first barsi at the NCPA.
Since this event was happening at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, I wanted to create something unique. Everyone knows Zakir Bhai as a tabla maestro and a pioneer of fusion music. He has been propagating classical music since childhood and has worked across many genres. But what many people don’t realise is that he was also a wonderful composer who created music for films.
So the idea was to bring together artists who have worked with him in the recording world. Hariharan has collaborated with Zakir Bhai on the albums Hazir 1 and Hazir 2 and has performed extensively with him worldwide. Kavita Krishnamurthy has sung for him in films such as Saaz, directed by Sai Paranjpye and In Custody, produced by Ismail Merchant. Suresh Wadkar, who is also a childhood friend of Zakir Bhai, has sung songs for In Custody and Saaz and has performed with him across the globe.
I am deeply grateful that all three artists agreed to perform without charging a single penny for this tribute.
The evening will conclude with a rhythmic tribute by the great percussionist Sivamani. He can create an entire universe of rhythm and sound through his instruments, and he is the perfect artist to close a celebration dedicated to Zakir Bhai.
The event is titled “Zakir Bhai: Kuch Alag Ho Jaye”, a name suggested by theatre director Feroz Abbas Khan.
Ustad Zakir Hussain’s contribution to Indian music is monumental. How do you think his legacy continues to inspire the current generation of musicians?
Zakir Bhai’s contribution to Indian music is truly phenomenal. I have often said that he is one of the greatest sounds that has ever reverberated across the universe of global music. Just hearing the name Zakir Hussain evokes respect and excitement—people instinctively bow their heads in admiration.
He carried forward the legacy of our father, Ustad Allah Rakha, and elevated the Punjab gharana of tabla playing to another level. But he also did something revolutionary: he began performing compositions from other gharanas.
Traditionally, tabla players would perform only the compositions of their own gharana, whether Punjab, Delhi, Banaras, Ajrada, Farrukhabad or Lucknow. Zakir Bhai broke that boundary. In his solo performances, he incorporated compositions from multiple gharanas, bringing them together beautifully.
This opened doors for the next generation of musicians. When young tabla players saw him embracing the richness of all these traditions, it gave them the confidence to do the same. That spirit of openness and innovation is a major part of the legacy he leaves behind.
You have brought together a unique blend of musicians—Kavita Krishnamurthy Subramaniam, Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar and Sivamani. What does each artist bring to the tribute?
Each of these artists represents a different dimension of Zakir Bhai’s musical world.
Kavita Krishnamurthy has sung some very unique compositions for him, including ghazals and memorable songs like “Kya Tumne Hai Keh Diya” and “Raat Dhalne Lagi” from Saaz. The latter is a soulful, meditative composition that listeners can immerse themselves in.
Hariharan brings the ghazal tradition to the stage. His albums Hazir 1 and Hazir 2, created with Zakir Bhai, are beautiful examples of the ghazal format, and he will present that musical style in this tribute.
Suresh Wadkar brings multiple musical traditions, playback singing, semi-classical compositions, bhajans and Natya Sangeet. Songs like “Ghei Chand” are iconic examples of the Natya Sangeet tradition he represents.
Sivamani brings a completely different energy. With his vast array of percussion instruments, looping machines and sound effects, he can create an entire rhythmic experience on stage. His performance represents the world rhythm dimension that Zakir Bhai himself championed.
Together, these artists reflect the breadth of Zakir Bhai’s musical collaborations and the deep respect they all share for him.
How do you envision the event bridging classical and contemporary music forms?
The structure of the evening itself creates that bridge.
Hariharan will open with ghazals from Hazir 1 and Hazir 2. After that, Kavita Krishnamurthy will perform songs she recorded for Zakir Bhai. Suresh Wadkar will then present compositions associated with him, along with a few of his well-known pieces, such as “Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le.”
He may also conclude with Natya Sangeet or a bhajan.
In this way, the programme moves from ghazal to film music, to semi-classical traditions and devotional forms. Finally, it culminates in a powerful world rhythm performance by Sivamani. So the evening gradually merges multiple musical forms into one cohesive tribute.
Were there any memorable moments during the rehearsals or planning process?
We had rehearsals mainly for the orchestra segments accompanying Kavita ji and Suresh Wadkar ji. Since they are performing songs in their original arrangements, the orchestra will recreate those musical parts.
Hariharan does not require rehearsals in the same way because his performances follow the traditional ghazal format, with harmonium, sarangi and tabla accompanying him.
Similarly, Sivamani performs solo with his instruments and creates music spontaneously. His performance is very free-flowing.
What excites me most is that all these artists are masters of improvisation. Even when they perform familiar songs, they bring something new to the stage each time. That spontaneity is what makes live music so special.
ZAKIR BHAI... KUCH ALAG HO JAAYE
Venue: The Studio Theatre, NMACC
DATE: MARCH 7
