Legendary tabla player Zakir Hussain dies at 73

Legendary tabla player Zakir Hussain passed away due to complications stemming from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at a San Francisco hospital. Widely recognised as the "tabla maestro," he was 73. His family confirmed the news on Monday, reports PTI. Amid seemingly conflicting information about the news, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed it through an X post on Sunday night itself but later deleted it. "The world has lost a true musical genius. Zakir Hussain's contributions to the world of music will forever be cherished," read the post from the Ministry. Earlier, a person claiming to be Zakir Hussain's nephew refuted the news through social media.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia responded to the news, stating, "Zakir Hussain Ji’s tabla spoke a universal language, transcending borders, cultures and generations." The minister shared a clip of the legendary percussionist and wrote, "This clip defines how we will remember him, and celebrate his legacy. The sound and vibrations of his rhythm will echo in our hearts forever."

Zakir Hussain won many awards in his highly decorated career, including Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He is also the recipient of India's highest recognition in music, namely Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Internationally, he is a five-time Grammy Award winner.

While Zakir Hussain is more known for his work as a percussionist, he also composed for some films and acted in others, including 1983's English feature Heat and Dust and 1998's Shabana Azmi starrer Saaz. He also contributed to Francis Coppola's film Apocalypse Now soundtrack.