Zakir Hussain (Tabla) and Niladri Kumar (Sitar)

Attended a concert titled 'Upaj (उपज)' of Ustaad Zakir Hussain (Tabla) and Niladri Kumar (Sitar) on 10th Dec 2015 at Shanmukhananda Auditorium, Sion, Mumbai; with Ravikiran.

Concert started with Raag Shuddha Kalyan (शुद्ध कल्याण). Niladri played amazing Sitar especially in Aalap. He played the raag for one hour. Even Zakirji clapped at the end of this raag.

Artists indicated interval, but audience urged them not to take one. So the concert continued, though some of the audience decided to take their own interval.

After this pseudo interval Niladri played a beautiful raag. He did not tell the name and I could not recognize it. But it was very sweet nevertheless. He played for about half an hour. They played amazing jugalbandi and followed it up with Sawal Jawab and ended with a crescendo with thunderous applause.

Third composition was also a very good composition. Again he did not tell the name of raag and I could not recognize it. However we enjoyed it very much.

Concert ended with a Dhun (धुन) in Bhairavi (भैरवी). Audience enjoyed it as it was a known tune. During this Zakirji drummed directly on the mic to create rhythm. He also played bedam Chakradhar on Tabla. Dhun and concert ended with a long applause and standing ovation.

Niladri extracted and extruded notes from Sitar with minuscule movement of fingers. Some were so deep and in lower octave that I did not know they existed. Sometimes audience started to clap even before Niladri finished his minute variations and he had to tell them to wait till he had finished.

Zakirji, being the living legend he is, played a conventional accompanist. He stole his moments of glory but did not try to overshadow Niladri. A commendable restraint. His Tabla playing is legendary. Each bol was crystal clear, whatever the playing speed. He breaths rhythm.

Both artists had a very good understanding and enjoyed playing together. When artists enjoy, so does the audience. Both of them have lighting fast fingers.

Organizers had discouraged audience from using camera but the official cameraman was snapping photos merrily with flash disturbing the artists.

Concert started half an hour late but audience was still pouring in after that. Most of the audience was not dardi (दर्दी). Some times they disturbed performers by moving around and sometimes clapping to early.

It was a fantabulous concert and pure bliss. Niladri has a great future. Zakirji is Zakirji.

Entertainment rating 9.75/10.