A juganbandi (improvisation) of Ustad Zakir Hussain and sitar player Niladri Kumar was filmed in the Siri Fort Auditorium on New Delhi in 2014. An art and a film critic attended the show and had a chance encounter with Ustad Zakir Hussain minutes before the concert … When they crossed paths the critic greeted him with “Assalamu Alaikum” [an arabic greeting] and Zakir Hussain replied with warmth, in an act of hospitality despite the swarm of approximately 50 people surrounding him.
Casual Conversations
In the green room, the critic, commenting on Zakir Hussain’s simple attire of a T-shirt and sports shoes, praised his down-to-earth nature. Ustad laughed, adding that he didn’t want to always dress like a traditional musician and had to think about his English wife’s tastes as well. But the critic observed that Zakir Hussain appeared weak and enquired about his health. The Ustad was honest about suffering from health issues and of maintaining a strict diet, but added he was passionate about playing the tabla: “My tabla keeps calling me.”
The Concert Experience
Zakir Hussain changed into a gorgeous yellow kurta and white pajama as the concert started, meeting a warm welcome from the audience. The concert lasted more than two-and-a-half hours, but many other audience members in the back rows, who were unfamiliar with classical music, started to leave for snacks and tea. This is a familiar sight across classical events in India. Nevertheless Ustad Zakir Hussain was unfazed and came up with a stunning performance where he displayed his expertise over the tabla to great effect. Not all appreciated the subtleties of his work, but he was undeterred and played with great heart, because the mark of a true master is transcendence — even the captive audience may not understand the true genius unfolding on stage.
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