Anup Jalota-Sumeet Tappoo unveil masterpiece album ‘Legacy’-- even as Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, showers taarif-pey-taarif on their 'Guru-Shishya' bonding! by Chaitanya Padukone

At a musical star-studded glittering ceremony at the Juhu-JW Marriott musical legend Anup Jalota and his protégé Sumeet Tappoo unveiled their highly anticipated music album, ‘Legacy’. The event marked the culmination of four decades of a profound Guru-Shishya relationship that has transcended borders, genres, and time. As a gesture of reverence, all the invited celeb guests and the news-media stood up silently for a minute, as a tribute to the departed soul of iconic tabla-maestro Ustaad Zakir Hussain who passed away in the US, following a critical pulmonary ailment. Incidentally, Anup shared a close rapport with  'late' Zakir-bhai. 

The family-sentiments sey-bharpur yaadgaar evening-mehfil was graced by an illustrious galaxy of celebrities and luminaries from the world of music and cinema, including legendary Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, the Hinduja family, Anuradha Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula, Talat Aziz, Prachee Shah-Pandya Pt. Bhavdeep Jaipurwale, Penaz Masani and A. Balasubramanian (MD, Aditya Birla Group), along with Ashok Khosla, Chandan Dass, Ghanshyam Vaswani, Pratibha Singh Baghel, Anveshi Jain, Vipin Aneja, Akriti Kakar, Pratiksha Vashishtha, Meenal Jain, Sudeep Banerji, Ram Shankar, Kshitij Wagh, Priyanka Vaidya, Mayuresh Pai, Sraboni Chaudhuri, Narayan Agarwal and many others.

The album, a symphonic celebration of seven duet-tracks spanning classical, devotional, spiritual, ghazal, Sufi and geet genres, is a tribute to the enduring power of music and the sacred Guru-Shishya bond.

As 'chief guest' (sharp-witted) legendary flautist Bollywood composer Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia commented on-stage amidst thunderous applause . That in next life ( agley janam) he should ideally get a musical perfect mentoring Guru  like Anup Jalota while showering taareef-pey tareef on the enviable Guru-Shishya bonding of Anup Jalota with Sumeet Tappoo

Speaking at the event, the articulate global-icon Anup Jalota reminisced about the origins of his relationship with Sumeet Tappoo. “I’ll never forget my first trip to Fiji, where I met Sumeet’s family. Young Sumeet, a toddler then, attended all my concerts, soaking in the music. I saw in him a spark, a connection that was unmistakable. Today, witnessing his growth as a world-class artist fills me with immense pride,” said Jalota.

Sumeet Tappoo, visibly moved, expressed his heartfelt gratitude. “Meeting Anupj-i was life-changing. The bond we share is not confined to this lifetime — it feels eternal. This album, ‘Legacy,’ is a reflection of the guidance, love, and inspiration he has given me. This innovative 'Legacy' album composed by the hugely--talented Prithvi Gandharv with 'Mix-and Master' process by Kohinoor Mukherjee,  is unique in many ways and I am sure it will enthrall music lovers the world over.”

The album’s tracks exemplify the duo’s unparalleled artistry. Highlights include “Chaturang,” a classical gem rooted in the Shyam Chaurasi Gharana which has visuals of fabulous classical dance recital as well by acclaimed Kathak exponent-actress Prachee Shah-Pandya, . Yet another “Prabhuji Tum Chandan Hum Paani,” a devotional track enhanced by a live symphony orchestra. The emotional ghazal “Raabta” and the vibrant Sufi track “Meherbaniyan” showcase the duo’s range and harmony. Tracks like “Shaayad” and “Safar” bring contemporary energy, while “Hari,” a meditative offering for world peace, closes the music album on a spiritually uplifting note. 

The seven-duet melodious tracks ( of Sumeet-Anup) 'Legacy' release would be phased out one-by-one  with a seven-days gap-breather according to Sumeet. . This is to ensure that each track meticulously composed (and amazingly recorded at home according to Anup Jalota) will get its due  focused attention and ( 'daad') responses from listeners and their ardent loyal fans from India as well as globally. The Legacy album is composed by hugely-talented Prithvi Gandharv with mixing-mastering by  Kohinoor Mukherjee

The unveiling ceremony was made even more poignant-sentimental with the display of a nostalgic photograph from four decades ago, capturing a young Sumeet in the arms of his Guru on a sunlit beach in Fiji — a moment that symbolized the start of their extraordinary journey.

‘Legacy’ is more than an album — it is a timeless celebration of music, devotion, and an unbreakable bond. As Anup Jalota and Sumeet Tappoo bring their musical magnum-opus to the world, they invite listeners to experience a symphony of emotions, a harmony of classy melodies, a timeless testament to the beauty of tradition and evolution in non-filmy ( basic repertoire) music.