Mumbai will celebrate the enduring legacy of tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain with the revival of the iconic concert experience Heartbeats – The Music Within on March 9 at Ravindra Natya Mandir. Originally conceptualised in 2008 by Shashi Vyas, the concert is built around a simple yet profound idea: the first sound every human being hears is a heartbeat. From that primal rhythm, Vyas says, emerges our earliest connection to life, emotion and music. “Music is the language of the heartbeat; it speaks to us before we even know words,” he says. “Reviving Heartbeats is our way of keeping that eternal conversation alive and honouring the masters who made music a gateway to the divine.” The original production featured an extraordinary line-up including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V. Selvaganesh, U. Srinivas and Sivamani. Staged across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata, it drew resounding acclaim and became a distinctive concert experience blending melody, rhythm and storytelling. Now, in 2026, the concept returns with renewed energy, honouring the spirit of the original while spotlighting a new generation of prodigious musicians. The revived edition will feature S. Akash (flute), Mehtab Ali Niazi (sitar), Siddhartha Belmannu (vocal), Shikharnaad Qureshi (drums), Swaminathan Selvaganesh (kanjira), Ishaan Ghosh (tabla) and Kaushiki Joglekar (keyboard). Each artiste brings a voice rooted in classical tradition yet expansive in imagination, promising an evening where rhythm flows across genres, generations and emotional landscapes. Tabla player Ishaan Ghosh describes the performance as a tribute filled with gratitude. “On the special occasion of his 75th birthday, through my music I want to thank him for showing us that when you are one with your instrument, nothing is impossible. He conquered the world with the tabla and taught us to do the same.” Vocalist Siddhartha Belmannu calls the maestro incomparable. “Ustad Zakir Hussain ji is truly a Na Bhooto Na Bhavishyati figure. When I sing that evening, it will be with devotion to his art and the immense contribution he has made to music.” For Swaminathan Selvaganesh, the concert carries a sense of responsibility. “Stepping onto the Heartbeats stage, created with Ustad Zakir ji in 2008, feels like a full-circle moment. We all carry a deep love for him — he lives in our hearts and our music.” Flautist S. Akash echoes that sentiment. “His music carries a divinity that goes beyond rhythm. Being part of a celebration of his 75th birthday feels like a heartfelt tribute to a maestro who inspired so many of us.” Through a seamless blend of vocal and instrumental performances, Heartbeats – The Music Within seeks to recreate the intimate connection between rhythm and the human pulse — from meditative calm to electrifying crescendos. As the next generation of musicians take the stage in Mumbai on March 9, the concert promises not only a celebration of a legendary artist, but also a reminder that rhythm — like the heartbeat — is the universal pulse that connects us all.
