Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain is nothing short of an icon in the classical Indian music firmament. A child prodigy born to another legend, Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain started training in music from the age of three. By the time he turned 11, he was touring with his father.
Even as he accompanied the many music greats, Hussain made the tabla a high-profile music instrument with his electrifying performances and stage charm. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee turns 67 today (9 March) - a perfect excuse for us to immerse ourselves with some of his memorable jugalbandi performances.
Zakir Hussain & Ustad Alla Rakha Khan
Zakir Hussain & Hariprasad Chaurasia
Zakir Hussain, Pt. Ravishankar & Pt. Swapan Chowdhury
Zakir Hussain & Pt. Shivkumar Sharma
Zakir Hussain & Thiruvaarur Bakthavatsalam
Zakir Husain & Shankar Mahadevan
Zakir Hussain & Hariharan
Zakir Hussain, Charles Lloyd & Eric Harland
Zakir Hussain, John Mclaughlin, U Srinivas, V Selvaganesh & Mahadevan
Zakir Hussain & Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan
Zakir Hussain & Amjad Ali Khan
(Hey lady, what makes you laugh? Do you laugh at sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, or other 'sanskari' stereotypes? This Women's Day, join The Quint's Ab Laugh Naari campaign. Pick up that beer, say cheers, and send us photographs or videos of you laughing out loud at buriladki@thequint.com.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)