Ustad Zakir Hussain has

In a country where tabla is synonymous with late Ustad Allarakha Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, young tabla player Ojas Adhiya has made a mark for himself, too. The musician, who took to the instrument at the age of five, credits his success to his love for the tabla. “I believe because of my love and passion for the tabla, I never faced difficulty in making a mark for myself. Since childhood, I was exposed to not only the classical style of playing, but also ghazals, semi classical, fusion, jazz and so on,” he shares.

Young tabla players in the country invariably look up to Hussain as an inspiration. Ask if the veteran played any role in his journey, too, and Adhiya says, “Ustad Zakir Hussain ji has been my role model since childhood, not only as a tabla player, but also as a human being. I have grown up listening to him and other

PHOTO: REUTERS Ustad Zakir Hussain