Ustad Zakir Hussain held Kerala’s traditional percussion culture in high esteem, says veteran percussionist Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar

“Zakirji had immense respect for Kerala and its accepted percussion instrumentality chenda,” recalls seasoned Kerala percussionist Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar arsenic memories of his long-standing relation with the tabla maestro Zakir Hussain travel rushing in.

“Our narration had bloomed connected the sets of the Malayalam movie Vanaprastham (1999) directed by the renowned filmmaker Shaji N. Karun. Zakirji, who had scored euphony for the movie, had told the manager that helium would similar to spot maine execute thayambaka, a solo recital connected chenda,” recalls Mattannur, arsenic the percussionist is popularly known, arsenic the satellite mourned the decease of the legendary classical instrumentalist successful the U.S. connected December 16 morning.

The seeds of a aboriginal creator collaboration were sown astatine the determination of Vanaprastham in Thiruvananthapuram arsenic helium performed thayambaka for astir 1 hour. “He recorded my full performance. I could ne'er hide that enactment with 1 of the top classical musicians of our times,” Mr. Marar tells The Hindu.

Fusion performance

Their fusion show connected the juncture of the 25th day of the Mumbai-based taste organisation Keli astatine Peruvanam colony successful Thrissur successful February 2017 remains caller successful his memory.

“I had joined him on with my squad aft his outstanding solo show and it was magical to spot him trying to bring the beats of chenda connected the tabla. Later, galore percussion lovers had told maine that the power of thayambaka was reflected towards the extremity of his solo performances astatine assorted venues, showing his emotion for Kerala’s affluent percussion culture,” helium says.

Their idiosyncratic narration deed the zenith erstwhile Ustad Zakir Hussain asked Mr. Marar and his sons to articulation him for a month-long show successful the United States successful 2019 arsenic portion of the 100th commencement day of his begetter Ustad Alla Rakha. “We performed astatine astir 19 venues from Los Angeles to New York and it was an creator dainty to ticker the fable successful adjacent quarters. I besides had the accidental to stock Kerala cuisine with him aft helium was taken aback by the emotion of Keralites successful the U.S. who utilized to service america Kerala cuisine during our trip,” helium recollects.