The idea was born in October 2024 when Salim and Sulaiman thought of creating a piece that would bring together the voice of Shankar Mahadevan and the rhythm of Zakir Hussain’s tabla.
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Music has the power to keep memories alive, and that is exactly what composer duo Salim-Sulaiman and singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan are doing with their upcoming track ‘Shringaar’.
The song, part of the sixth season of Salim-Sulaiman’s popular music series ‘Bhoomi’, is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, who passed away in December 2024.
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‘Shringaar’ is described as a classical-pop fusion, composed by Salim-Sulaiman and sung by Shankar Mahadevan. What makes this song special is the emotion behind it.
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The idea was born in October 2024 when Salim and Sulaiman thought of creating a piece that would bring together the voice of Shankar Mahadevan and the rhythm of Zakir Hussain’s tabla. But fate had a different plan.
By the time the melody was ready in November, Zakir Hussain’s health had declined. Shankar advised them not to disturb him. Within weeks, the music world lost him forever.
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Recalling the moment, Salim Merchant shared, “We had imagined this song with Zakir bhai and Shankar bhai together. When he passed away, it felt like I had lost my musical father. Beyond the song, it was a personal loss. But since this song was meant to be with him, finishing it as a tribute felt natural.”
The track’s lyrics speak of a man telling his beloved that her natural beauty needs no decoration.
For Shankar Mahadevan, the song is more than just a tribute. It is a reminder of everything he learned from working with the tabla maestro. “Performing with him, travelling with him, you didn’t just learn music, you learned humility, teamwork, positivity. He was like a walking encyclopedia of rhythm and life itself. This tribute is not just mine or Salim-Sulaiman’s, it belongs to the whole music fraternity,” he said. “I know when this song plays, Zakir bhai will be smiling down, blessing us like he always did.”
Salim recalls, “We just let him explore the classical part. He sang the whole thing in one go, without retakes. It felt like Maa Saraswati herself was present. It’s rare to capture such a live moment, but we did, and it was pure bliss.”
The song will be released on September 1, 2025, as part of ‘Bhoomi 2025’.
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