Remembering Zakir Hussain: Manto to Saaz, here’s a look at the Tabla maestro’s soulful and significant contribution to Bollywood

Zakir Hussain is a name synonymous with virtuosity in the world of Indian classical music. His name is revered in both Indian and international music circles. His remarkable contributions to Bollywood that have made him an irreplaceable figure in the music industry. The table maestro passed away at 73 in San Francisco due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As we remember Zakir Hussain, let’s have a look at some of his known compositions in Bollywood.

Zakir Hussain and his Bollywood contributions

Manto

Zakir Hussain has composed music for several movies and one of his notable work remains Nandita Das directed Manto. Manto is a biographical drama based on the life of the controversial and prolific Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Zakir Ji contributed to the soundtrack by bringing his unique tabla rhythms to the film. His tabla playing helped elevate the emotional and dramatic tone of the film.

Mr and Mrs Iyer

Hussain’s involvement in the 2002 film “Mr. and Mrs. Iyer”, directed by Aparna Sen, is a significant contribution to its memorable soundtrack. The film, set against the backdrop of communal tensions during a bus journey, focuses on the relationship between a Hindu woman (played by Konkona Sen Sharma) and a Muslim man (played by Rahul Bose).

Heat and Dust

He made his acting debut in 1989 British drama Heat and Dust. His tryst with the world of cinema, in English and Hindi, included such Merchant-Ivory films as Heat and Dust (1983), in which he, playing the gentle Inder Lal, romances Julie Christie. For Shashi Kapoor’s last film, In Custody (1993), another Merchant-Ivory production, he composed the soundtrack.

Saaz

Zakir Saab also composed some songs for Saaz. The two tracks composed by the indomitable percussionist Kya tumne keh diya sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Phir bhor bhayee by Devaki Pandit stood out in a film that was all about music. Interestingly, he even acted in film alongside Shabana Azmi.

The Perfect Murder

Zakir Ji’s contribution to the soundtrack of The Perfect Murder, a Bollywood thriller directed by Sanjay Gupta, is a notable example of his versatile work in film music. Known for his mastery over rhythm, Zakir’s involvement brought a distinctive layer of authenticity and depth to the soundtrack.

Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola and two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

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