Tabla's heart stops beating

The passing of 73-year-old tabla legend Zakir Hussain on December 16 in San Francisco due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, signifies the conclusion of a significant chapter in the history of Indian classical music.

- S Ramachandran

It is to be noted that the arrival of Zakir Hussain was met with an unconventional welcome from his father, the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha. Eschewing traditional blessings, he cradled the infant Zakir, whispering into the neonate's ears the mesmerizing rhythms of the tabla. This initiation at birth foreshadowed a life that would go on to be deeply entwined with the enchanting world of music, as the bass arose from his bassinet.

Years later, fate presented a cinematic detour during the filming of the iconic song 'Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya' from the film Mughal-e-Azam at Mohan Studios. Ustad Alla Rakha, present on the set, was intrigued by the possibility of his son portraying the captivating young Salim. Introduced to the legendary Dilip Kumar who played the older character, the young Zakir received his encouraging nod, a tentative 'theek hai, kal baat karte hain' lingering in the air.