A packed auditorium and appreciative silence marked renowned Zitar exponent Niladri Kumaar’s Mumbai concert on Sunday, as audiences immersed themselves in an evening where the music spoke way louder than words could. Part of his 11-city India tour, Ekka, the performance celebrated the timeless appeal of Indian instrumental music while paying a heartfelt tribute to the late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, with archival visuals accompanying a special performance.Speaking to Mumbai Mirror exclusively, Niladri said, “Ekka is my 11-city India tour. I had last performed here around 11 years ago, making this concert especially memorable. Music has the universal power to bring us together as one, as ‘EK’, and I truly believe Indian music is the winning card- the ace, the hukkum ka ikka.”Explaining the idea behind the tour, he added, “Ekka is about connecting listeners to the heart and soul of our music through the sitar, the Zitar and the exceptional musicians accompanying me.”Reflecting on the enduring appeal of Indian classical music, Niladri said, “People say you can be ‘high on music’. I’ve experienced that through Indian music, and I want to share that inexplicable high with the audience. Our music has survived generations, permutations, combinations and even AI because it has an eternal quality.”The musician also spoke about creating the Zitar over two decades ago. “When I created the Zitar over 24 years ago, I never imagined it would evolve the way it has. I made it simply because I wanted a new way to express myself,” he said.According to Niladri, today’s audiences are searching for something deeper than entertainment. “People have a silent thirst and are looking to reconnect with their roots because that’s where real healing happens. Indian music has the power to take you there and will always outlast passing trends while connecting people across the world.”
