Ustad Zakir Hussain passes away at 73: Bollywood celebrities mourn loss of Tabla maestro

San Francisco (USA), December 16 : Renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away on Sunday, December 15. The legendary musician had been receiving treatment for heart-related complications in the ICU of a San Francisco hospital for the past two weeks.
The cause of death was confirmed to be idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. The news was confirmed by Jon Bleicher of Prospect PR, representing the family.
The demise of Padma Vibhushan awardee has left the music world and his countless admirers in profound grief, with tributes and condolences pouring in from the film industry.
Film director and producer Madhur Bhandarkar offered his condolences to the family of Padma Vibhushan Zakir Hussain.
Taking to his X handle, the 'Page 3' director wrote,
"Saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary tabla maestro, Padma Vibhushan #ZakirHussain sir. His extraordinary talent elevated Indian classical music to the world stage, making him a household name. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the millions of admirers. #OmShanti"
https://x.com/imbhandarkar/status/1868490203842642132
Music composer Shamir Tandon expressed his gratitude to Ustad Zakir Hussain for putting India on the global map of the music industry through his tabla.
While sharing a beautiful portrait of Zakir Hussain during one of his performances on Instagram, Shamir Tandon wrote,
"The bols of Zakir bhai's tabla have put us on the global Music firmament many decades ago.
Making Indian classical cool and Youtifying the instrument - such Gargantuan contribution to art and culture. RIP Zakir bhai. Thank you for everything. Grateful"
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDm5acNSOCa/
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh paid tribute to the tabla maestro by sharing his photo along with a red heart and folded hands emoji.
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The three-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Ricky Kej was 'shocked' and 'deeply saddened' by the demise of the legend Ustad Zakir Hussain. He called him one of the greatest musicians which India has ever produced.
Sharing a monochrome portrait of the singer on Instagram, Ricky Kej wrote,
"Shocked, deeply saddened and devastated by the passing-on of the legend Ustad Zakir Hussain @zakirhq9. One of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced. Along with being the best himself, Zakirji was known for his immense humility, approachable nature, and for being responsible for the careers of numerous musicians, who are now forces to reckon with themselves. He was a treasure trove of skill and knowledge and always shared and encouraged the entire music community through collaborations and his actions. His legacy will live on forever, and his influence will be felt for generations. He left us too soon."
https://x.com/rickykej/status/1868456862276018556
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, India, Zakir Hussain was the son of the iconic tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. From a young age, he displayed a remarkable affinity for the tabla, quickly gaining recognition for his exceptional talent.
By the time he was a teenager, Zakir was already performing alongside some of the greatest Indian classical musicians.
Throughout his career, Ustad Zakir Hussain collaborated with some of the most iconic names in both traditional Indian and global music scenes. He worked with legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan and was a key figure in creating international fusion bands like Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin and Planet Drum with Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart.
His collaboration on the Planet Drum album also earned him a Grammy Award.