Hyderabad: Legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who passed away on Thursday, shared a deep connection with Hyderabad, a city he often admired for its cultural resonance. His mesmerizing performance here left an indelible mark on the artistic soul of the Deccan.
speaking with Deccan Chronicle On February 18, 2023, during a concert on “Melody of Rhythm”, about his connection with Hyderabad, the maestro said, “I spent some time here in Khairatabad in the late 1950s with some family friends. I also shot my first film here – so the history goes way back. Goes,” he added, adding that he would like to come back to the beautiful city.
He recalled sharing the stage with his father, legendary artist Alla Rakha, in Hyderabad in the mid-1960s.
“This is a city where great artists lived here as court musicians, and they educated a large number of devoted followers in Indian music. The impact is still felt today,” he said.
“Hyderabad has a rich tradition of classical music. It was home to the doyens of Hindustani music: Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Tabla Nawaz Sheikh Dawood. Pandit Jasraj and his brother Pandit Maniram also etched their music in the minds of the city’s music lovers”, Ustad Zakir Hussain January 2018 Ma said in a conversation with the Deccan Chronicle.
Ustad Zakir Hussain last performed at the “Melody of Rhythm” concert on February 18, 2024 in Hyderabad.
He shared the stage with his long-time stage partner and renowned sitar player Pandit Niladri Kumar.
As Hyderabad mourns the loss of Ustad Zakir Hussain, his rhythmic legacy and heartfelt connection with the city will continue to resonate in its cultural heritage for generations to come.