Zila Khan, daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, will mesmerise audiences with a generous dose of Sufi Rock on June 22 at DPS Whitefield grounds between 7 and 9.30 pm. Ustad Maa Zila Khan’s musical heritage spans seven generations of legendary classical musicians and five generations of recorded music. She has successfully established herself in a mould that is inspired by, but is independent from that of her father. She is also the first female singer from this Gharana, and has many albums and records to her credit.
One of UstadMaa Zila Khan’s greatest asset and strength is her ability to apply her musical skills and knowledge in multiple languages. This allows wider audiences and larger market segments with varied backgrounds to connect with her music. She is known for her perfect command over various styles of performance - be it dramatic folk songs, classical ragas, softly nostalgic ghazals, Arabic and Persian songs, Bhakti Soul Sangeet and of course authentic Sufi Music for which artists such as Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali are famous for.
“You connected all of us to Almighty through the medium of your music; your singing has and can play a definitive and key role in spreading peace and harmony around the world,” is what Former President APJ Kalam wrote to Zila, when she sang at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She has also sung for President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and is respected in the literary, ministerial, corridors as well as amongst the music fraternity and fans.
When she is asked to sing for Jazz Festivals, her music becomes a soaring melody which is an exquisite amalgam of the East and the West. She has also sung a Western Concerto in Arabic, adding a new dimension to Jazz while expanding her musical ability to greater creative heights in showbiz. Hers is a harmonious blend of fusion music with a singular and enjoyable flavor imbued with literary resonance. Her music is a unique style of melody enriched with literature, seeped in heritage while being dramatically spunky and contemporary, showcasing her Sufiyana style in the world of international music or Worldmusic as it is called today.