The 41st Memorial Concert at Prithvi Theatre on Friday, February 28, marked the first edition following the passing of Ustad Zakir Hussain. Titled "Sumiran," the event was dedicated to the tabla maestro’s legacy, bringing together musicians and audiences to honour his contributions to Indian classical music.
The concert featured a lineup of established artists. Rakesh Chaurasia and Fazal Qureshi performed flute and tabla compositions, while Ranjit Barot, Nastya Saraswati, and Arka Chakraborty presented a fusion of rhythms. A Taal Vadya ensemble, featuring Taufiq Qureshi, Yogesh Samsi, Sridhar Parthasarathy, and Sabir Khan, showcased percussion arrangements reflecting Hussain’s influence. Shikhar Naad Qureshi also performed, and the evening concluded with a collaborative jam session.
The event drew several prominent personalities from the film and theatre industries. Among those in attendance were Jaya Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Feroz Khan, Dia Mirza, Vrajesh Hirjee, Kay Kay Menon, Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, Zahan Kapoor, Shaira Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Ila Arun, Ishita Arun, Aahana Kumra, Vikramaditya Motwane, Dolly Thakore, Makarand Deshpande, Rajit Kapoor, Anup Soni, and Juhi Babbar.
The memorial concert served as both a celebration of music and a moment of reflection on Ustad Zakir Hussain’s enduring impact on Indian classical and contemporary music.
Pic credits: Raj Lalwani, Jasmin Kharbanda, Manasi Gadkari