Zakir Hussain's riveting performance in Capital

With a jam-packed auditorium filled with classical music connoisseurs, Padma Bhushan Zakir Hussain gave a thunderous performance at the Kamani auditorium on January 10. His live in concert marked the conclusion of birth centenary of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's former Chairman and Founder member Charat Ram.

Zakir, who has been associated with the Kendra from more than four decades, is performing after a gap of eight years. His act was a mélange of both traditional and contemporary music traditions that etched an unforgettable experience in the hearts of the music lovers.

Shobha Deepak Singh, who is the daughter of Charat Ram and the current director of the Kendra, said they always look forward to his performances."I have known Zakir from over 35 years. I still remember the day when he performed for the Kendra for the first time. He was actually a last moment entry to the musicians we had in our annual festival. Two musicians from Pakistan were supposed to perform but it got cancelled at the end and I still remember how beautifully he handled the whole situation by his performance," she said remembering about the long association she has with the musical genius.

Adding more about his association, Zakir reminisced how he was just a teenage musician when he had performed for the fest and that too opposite two legends - his father Ustad Allarakha Quresh and his frequent accompanist Oscar-winning late sitar play Pandit Ravi Shankar.

"Shriram Shanker Lal music festival is one of the premier music festivals in India, I remember playing at the festival way back when I was 16-year-old. I had to play a 15 minute solo before Pt. Ravi Shankar and my father were to get on stage…Shobha and Deepak (her husband) have been great supporters of the arts and it is an honor to be accepted by them as their friend. Shobha is a very fine photographer; her work is beautiful and thought provoking. I have missed out on playing at the festival for some years now and I am really looking forward to being there this year," Zakir said.

The hour-long performance of the musicians came to an end with the audience's huge round of applause.