Festival Details

Maestro Forever : A tribute to Zakir Hussain 
Sun-Mon, December 14-15, 2025, 9.00 am to 9.00 pm
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, Tata Theatre, Experimental Theatre,
Godrej Dance Theatre, Dilip Piramal Art Gallery, Tata & JBT foyer Open Air Plaza

In association with Burgundy Private, Private Banking by Axis Bank and The Prestige Group

On 15th December last year, the world of music fell silent with the passing of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. An exceptionally creative artiste and composer, his genius transcended musical boundaries and genres, ranging from Indian and Western classical music to rock, pop, jazz and more.

Beginning with his performance alongside his father, Allarakha, at the NCPA’s foundation day in 1969, our association continued to grow through 55 long years with numerous concerts by him featuring artistes from across the world, as also musicians of the NCPA’s Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI). He also wrote two compositions for the SOI in the last decade. Additionally, it was our utmost privilege to have him as an esteemed member of the NCPA Council.

Besides being a virtuosic performer who could turn rhythm into melody, here was a man with a generous heart, gentle disposition and charming persona.

Now a year later, the NCPA, along with over 50 national and international artistes, students and family members have come together to remember and salute the prodigious artistry of the inimitable maestro. This two-day event, from 9 am to 9 pm, will feature several performances, talks, presentations, film screenings and a photo exhibition at various venues of the NCPA.

Sunday, December 14, 2025
Tata Theatre, 9.00 am to 11.30 am (with intermission)

Samarpan : Hindustani music recitals
Anindo and Anubrata Chatterjee (tabla) with Sabir Khan (sarangi)
(intermission)
Shahid Parvez & Shakir Khan (sitar) with Vijay Ghate (tabla)

Tickets:
Rs. 4500, 2700, 2025, 1800, 1350, 1080, 720, 450/- (for members, inclusive of GST)
Rs. 5,000/- 3000, 2250, 2000, 1500, 1200, 800, 500/- (for public, inclusive of GST)

Experimental Theatre, 12.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Talk 1 – 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm

Influence of different tabla gharanas on Zakir Hussain and his influence on the next generation of tabla players
by Fazal Qureshiy, Shubh Maharaj and Tejas Tope

Talk 2 – 2.00 pm to 3.15 pm
Guftagu : Conversation between Sumantra Ghosal and Nasreen Munni Kabir on the life and artistry of Zakir Hussain (including Q&A)

Talk 3 – 3.30 pm to 4.15 pm
Zakir Hussain’s influence on Carnatic music
by Kumaresh, Jayanthi Kumaresh and Anantha R. Krishnan

Talk 4 – 4.45 pm to 5.30 pm
Zakir Hussain’s influence on Jazz
by Ranjit Barot

Entry free for NCPA members on first come first served basis
Included in All-day pass : Rs.500/- per day (for Public) Entry on first come first served basis
Includes access to all on campus, outdoor activities, the photography exhibition, screenings and talks; does not include concerts.

Sunday, December 14, 2025
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, 6.30 pm

Forever Friends
Long-time friends and collaborators of the ustad, John Mclaughlin (guitar), Louis Banks (piano, keyboards), Dave Holland (bass), Ganesh Rajagopalan (violin), Ranjit Barot (drums), V. Selvaganesh (kanjira), Shankar Mahadevan (vocal), Chris Potter (saxophone), Sanjay Divecha (guitar), Gino Banks (drums) and Sheldon D’Silva (bass), Fazal Qureshi (tabla), Taufiq Qureshi (djembe), Yogesh Samsi (tabla), Ojas Adhiya (tabla), Giridhar Udupa (ghatam), Swaminathan Selvaganesh (kanjira), Shikhar Naad Qureshi (djembe & percussion)  take the stage to celebrate Zakir Hussain’s all-embracing approach to music.

Tickets:
Rs. 13500, 9000, 8100, 6750, 5400, 4050, 2700, 1800, 900/- (Members)
Rs. 15000, 10000, 9000, 7500, 6000, 4500, 3000, 2000 & 1000/- (Public)

Monday, December 15, 2025
Tata Theatre, 9.00 am – 11.30 am (with intermission)

Swaranjali : Hindustani music recitals
Ajoy Chakrabarty (vocal) with Ishaan Ghosh (tabla) & Ajay Joglekar (harmonium)
(intermission)
Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash (sarod) with Aditya Kalyaanpur and Amit Kavthekar (tabla)

Tickets:
Rs. 4500, 2700, 2025, 1800, 1350, 1080, 720, 450/- (for members, inclusive of GST)
Rs. 5,000/- 3000, 2250, 2000, 1500, 1200, 800, 500/- (for public, inclusive of GST)

Experimental Theatre, 12.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Talk – 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm
Zakir Hussain – as composer and pioneer of fusion music in India
by Taufiq Qureshi

Talk & presentations – 2.00 pm to 3.15 pm
Zakir Hussain and the World of Dance
by
Antonia Minnecola in conversation with Saswati Sen and Isabella Qureshi
Anisa Qureshi (Voices from the World -A video compilation)

Music Concert – 3.30 pm to 4.15 pm
Swararpan : Hindustani Music Recital
by Kala Ramnath (violin) and Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla)

Music Concert – 4.45 pm to 5.30 pm
Legacy Continues
The Legacy Continues: Performances by-
Students of Zakir Hussain – Suphala Patankar, Kiran Morarji, Tejas Tope, Vikas Yendluri, Karanjeet Singh Minhas with Ajay Joglekar (harmonium) & Anuradha Pal with Ajay Joglekar (harmonium)

Entry free for NCPA members on first come first served basis
Included in All-day pass : Rs.500/- per day (for Public) Entry on first come first served basis
Includes access to all on campus, outdoor activities, the photography exhibition, screenings and talks; does not include concerts.

Monday, December 15, 2025
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, 6.30 pm

Family & Friends
Fazal Qureshi (tabla), Taufiq Qureshi (djembe), Yogesh Samsi (tabla), Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri), Sridar Parthasarathy (mridangam), Vijay Prakash (vocal), Ajay Joglekar (harmonium), Sangeet Haldipur (piano), Shikhar Naad Qureshi (djembe & percussion), Naveen Sharma (dholak) and the students of Punjab gharana have collaborated with the maestro onstage through the years, expanding the possibilities of classical music performance. In this tribute concert, they will be joined by students of Zakir Hussain and other family members.

Tickets:
Rs. 9000, 6750, 5400, 4500, 3150, 2250, 1350, 900, 450/- (for members, inclusive of GST)
Rs. 10000, 7500, 6000, 5000, 3500, 2500, 1500, 1000 & 500/- (for public, inclusive of GST)

Dec 14 & 15 – Godrej Dance Theatre
Screenings of films on Zakir Hussain by Sumantra Ghosal

1) An Indian Accent (30 mins)
10.30 am
The making of Peshkar and Zakir Hussain’s tabla concerto featuring Zakir Hussain & SOI

2) The Space Between the Notes (55 mins)
12.00 noon
A live concert featuring Zakir Hussain & Niladri Kumaar

3) Cha Khaben, Ghosaldada? (80 mins)
2.00 pm
The Sangeet Research Academy (SRA, Kolkata) bus tour with Zakir Hussain and friends

4) The Speaking Hand (105 mins)
4.00 pm
A full-length documentary on Zakir Hussain and the art of tabla

Entry free for NCPA members on first come first served basis
Included in All-day pass : Rs.500/- per day (for Public) Entry on first come first served basis
Includes access to all on campus, outdoor activities, the photography exhibition, screenings and talks; does not include concerts.

Dec 14 & 15 – Dilip Piramal Art Gallery
8.00 am – 9.00 pm
Photo Exhibition
Zakir Hussain: Learning to Learn – A Tribute by Dayanita Singh

Entry free for NCPA members on first come first served basis
Included in All-day pass : Rs.500/- per day (for Public) Entry on first come first served basis
Includes access to all on campus, outdoor activities, the photography exhibition, screenings and talks; does not include concerts.

Box Office now open.