From Ae Ri Sakhi to Albela Sajan Ayo Ri and Chhap Tilak, the sitar conversed with the sounds of the djembe, tabla and keyboards, creating a vibrant interplay of classical and contemporary sounds. At Mausiqui: A Story You Listen To, sitar maestro Hidayat Husain Khan took the audience – the members of Taj’s exclusive business club The Chambers – on a musical journey across genres, bringing the rich classical legacy of the Imdadkhani gharana into a conversation with Aditya Kalyanpur on the tabla and young musicians like percussionist Mayur Magare and Sanidhya Jain on the keys.
Hidayat Husain Khan
The son of legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat’s musical vocabulary draws on the Gayaki Ang, a style of sitar playing that emulates the nuances of the human voice through fluid phrasing, expressive slides and intricate ornamentation. “Never attended such a sitar vaadan in my life,” said a member of the audience. The evening also spotlighted the other artistes, as Aditya and Mayur showcased a jugalbandhi between the tabla and the djembe.
Aditya Kalyanpur and Mayur Magare
‘Coming back here feels like coming home’About performing in Delhi, Hidayat said, “Being here brings back so many memories. Coming back here feels like coming home. Between compositions, he spoke about saaz milana — the tuning of instruments between performances — and its place in the classical tradition. “Sometimes people look at saaz milana as an interruption, but it is very much a part of the tradition. In this, both us and the audience get ready for the next composition,” he explained, inviting listeners to appreciate the transition as part of the musical experience.
Simmi Chopra
Hidayat’s explorations also extend beyond the stage. His work on 24,000 Miles, a composition in collaboration with Naad, reflects an interest in bringing Indian classical influences into a wider musical conversation. The work has been put forward for Grammy consideration in the Best New Age Album category.
Kazim Ali Khan
