Zakir Hussain Birth Anniversary: Un-beat-able global rhythm-maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain for whom 'tabla-taal'  were more like heart-beats! by Chaitanya Padukone

Hazaaron salaam-pranaam to the 'late' legendary Padma Vibhushan Tabla-Titan Ustad Zakir Hussain! Am fortunate and blessed that I knew  Four-Grammy Awards winner and global-icon passionate tabla-player Zakir-Bhai over the past few decades and I would personally meet him and interact with him after live concerts and also at prayer-condolence-meets of other legends who had passed away. Many years ago the 'zinda-dil' Zakir-bhai frankly told me that he actually disliked being called "Waah Ustad'. " That's because I always consider myself more as an advance level student-shishya-shagird., There is always that possibility that being called an Ustad, can make you feel complacent or maybe over-confident. It could also create an invisible barrier between me and my students learning tabla under me," explained modest down-to-earth versatile Zakir-bhai..  

Undoubtedly, Zakir endeared himself to millions of his ardent fan-following.With his brilliant tabla-mastery and his handsome charismatic alluring looks. Which in turn were enhanced by his curly-bouncy hair-locks and smiling nature. What also endeared him to people who knew him well, was his friendly, extrovert yet caring, sentimental nature. With his crisp sharp-witted comments great composer-ace tabla-player Zakir would add comments of cool humour to liven up the concert-shows.

Being cool and unassuming by nature, during various live jugal-bandi concerts, I observed that Zakir-Bhai never tried to dominate. Instead he always also allowed other celeb musicians on stage, to get full scope to showcase their own talents and win audience applause. 

Must add that Zakir-Bhai not only carried forward his iconic Tabla-Maestro father (rhythm-Guru) Ustad Alla Rakha's taal-legacy but also lived up to and sometimes surpassed his father's rhythmic aura in terms of showmanship!  As is known, secular-minded Zakir-bhai openly expressed his devotional reverence for Lord Ganesha, Maa Saraswati-devi, and Lord Shiva during his live rhythmic-tributes.

 
Incidentally as a spontaneous 'handsome actor', the versatile Ustad acted in quite a few movies including the English movie 'Heat and Dust', and  Hindi films like 'Manto,'  the ( English-Hindi) Monkey-Man, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer and this film 'Saaz'... This musical Hindi film Saaz (1997)  directed by Sai Paranjape was supposedly inspired by the professional rivalry of two legendary playback singer-sisters. In 'Saaz' it was also rumored that zestful Zakir-bhai was playing the screen-role of a genius innovative film music composer  ( was it R D Burman ?)  who closely collaborated with the younger singer-sister. 

 A gem of a gentleman and jewel of a rhythm Badshah! Immortal Zakir-bhai will always Live in our hearts and his fabulous intricate table-beats will possibly 'synchronise' with our heart-beats !