A new heartbeat: This performance in Mumbai will pay tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain performs during a concert in 2010

The roots are deep, and now the branches have spread across," says Ishaan Ghosh. The reply might seem metaphorical, but when applied to the influence of the late Ustad Zakir Hussain on Indian music, it feels apt. Ghosh will join fellow peers including Shikharnaad Qureshi, S Selvaganesh, S Akash, Mehtab Ali Niazi, Siddhartha Belmannu, and Kaushiki Joglekar as they revive the Heartbeats- The Music Within at Prabhadevi today. The performance hosted by the Grace Foundation will be a tribute and a celebration of the maestro.

(From left) U Srinivas, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Shankar Mahadevan during a performance. Pics Courtesy/Grace Foundation; Artistes

Conceptualised in 2008 by Shashi Vyas, the concert was originally helmed by U Shrinivas, Shankar Mahadevan, V Selvaganesh, Sivamani, and Ustad Zakir Hussain. "Music is the language of the heartbeat - it speaks to us before we even know words. Reviving Heartbeats is our way of keeping that eternal conversation alive, and of honouring the masters who made music a gateway to the divine," Vyas shares.

(From left) Mehtab Ali Niazi; Siddhartha Belmannu, S Akash; Shikarnaad Qureshi; Kaushiki Joglekar, and Ishaan Ghosh

The new iteration feels like a passing of the baton. Shikharnaad Qureshi, Hussain's nephew, shares, "It is an honour to take it on. I have had fond memories of watching these performances, as a young boy. My dad [Taufiq Qureshi] would often join them." Vocalist Belmannu adds, "It is a privilege to come together to pay a tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain, after all."

A dated pic of Zakir Hussain with a young Mehtab Ali Niazi

The feeling seems to run through the line-up. Swaminathan Selvaganesh recalls missing his father, V Selvaganesh, during the famous Shakti tours. "But the payoff was when he'd return. I'd be right there at the airport. He'd show me pictures and videos of the performances, and honestly, just seeing his excitement made me want to follow in his footsteps," the percussionist admits. Similarly, Mehtab Ali Niazi shares a photograph of a young Hussain feeding him the bottle as a baby.

Swaminathan Selvaganesh

"You cannot expect us to deliver the same blend of music as he did, but the idea is to show the imprint he [Hussain] left," admits Kaushiki Joglekar. Yet, the influence seems to be strong even in the style of music. "The line of thought we are following is quite unique. Musically speaking, it has all the elements of a classical performance, but presented differently," reveals Ghosh. "It is closer to a raagmaala, a compilation of diverse ragas and compositions. There will be an emphasis on rhythm, as it is a tribute," Qureshi adds.

Ishaan Ghosh (left) and Mehtab Ali Niazi in performance

It helps that the young have often crossed paths. "While many of us have shared the stage in different combinations over the years, this is the first time this specific ensemble is coming together as one unit," Swaminathan says. "Audiences can instantly see that joy when we perform, sometimes bursting into laughter on stage," Ghosh adds. An apt tribute. After all, the Ustad never shied away from having fun on stage.

ON Today, 6.30 pm
AT Ravindra Natya Mandir, near Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Sayani Road, Prabhadevi.
WHATSAPP 7045597505 (registration mandatory)