The sarangi has fallen silent. At least for now. Ustad Faiyaz Khan, who mesmerised music lovers with his mastery over sarangi and tabala is a shattered man, after the tragic October 25 accident. His wife Parveen Banu and her younger sister Shameem Banu died, after the car he was driving toppled near Harihar. Ustad and his younger son Faraaz survived with serious injuries. They were on their way to Dharwad for Bakrid.
Prayers and support are pouring on his fan page on Facebook, but sources close to him say that the sarangi soul needs monitory support. “The Ustad never went after money and for him, music is life. We are aware of the medical expenses he has incurred. He definitely needs money for his treatment further and to support his family for the next six months to one year,” a very close confidant of Ustad, told City Express.
Ustad’s both legs and left arm are fractured. His right collar bone is dislocated. He has bruises all over the body. “He will not able to perform at least for the next six months. He is the sole earning member of the family,” sources said. His old-time friend and tabala player Chandrashekhar takes care of Ustad now.
Hailing from a family of musicians, Ustad’s links to music runs as deep as eight generations. “In South India, he is the only man who plays sarangi. He is a great devotee of Purandaradas. Sheikh Abdullah Khan, his grandfather, played Sarangi for the Nawab of Hyderabad and Maharaja of Mysore. Both his parents were great sarangi players,” his friends said. Ustad’s musical touch brought him closer to greats like Dr Vijayabhaskar, A R Rahman and M M Keeravani among others.
Speaking to CE, Sarfaraaz Khan, Ustad’s son and 12th Grade Arts student, said that the family is still recovering from the shock. “My younger brother (Faraaz Khan) has started going to school now. My mother was a music lover, though she never played any instruments or sang,” Sarfaraaz, who has been performing sarangi from the age of six, said.
As Ustad Ustad Faiyaz Khan picks up pieces together in life, you can get in touch with his son Sarfaraaz on 9731335282 or email sarangi.sarfaraazkhan@gmail.com, with some help that can make him fall in love with his sarangi again.