How Are Salim-Sulaiman Paying Tribute with New Track 'Shringaar' to Ustad Zakir Hussain?

Mumbai, Aug 31 (NationPress) The acclaimed music composition duo Salim-Sulaiman is honoring the late Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain with a heartfelt tribute alongside fellow composer Shankar Mahadevan. Their upcoming track, 'Shringaar', will be featured in the 6th season of Salim-Sulaiman's music initiative, 'Bhoomi'.

'Shringaar', a classical pop composition, showcases the vocals of Shankar Mahadevan. It stands as a sincere homage to their mentor, the late Zakir Hussain. The duo aimed to blend Shankar's voice with the artistry of Ustad Zakir Hussain. Unfortunately, Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away in December 2024, altering their plans.

Discussing the song, Salim Merchant mentioned, “The concept for this track featuring Zakir bhai and Shankar bhai emerged at the end of October. By November, Sulaiman and I had developed the initial melody, which Shankar appreciated. However, he advised against sending it to Zakir bhai due to his ill health. On December 15th, we all faced the loss of a great musician. Beyond the song, it was a significant loss for me personally and for the music community. Since we had intended to collaborate with him, it was only fitting to complete the track as a tribute.”

'Shringaar' narrates the tale of an individual conveying to their beloved that her innate beauty requires no embellishment.

Shankar Mahadevan expressed that icons like Ustad Zakir Hussain were akin to “walking encyclopedias.” From sharing the stage with him to traveling globally, Shankar emphasized that one not only learned music in his presence but also lessons in humility, companionship, collaboration, and the power of spreading positivity through music.

He remarked, “‘Shringaar’ is a tribute to someone who holds a special place in our hearts, including Salim-Sulaiman and the entire music community. This is a collective homage we have crafted for him. I believe that as the song plays, he will be watching over us from above, smiling and blessing us with the same goodwill he always shared.”

The creation of the song was filled with enchanting moments. Shankar's recording was so fluid that it required very few retakes.

Salim shared, “We allowed Shankar to delve into the classical aspect, and he astonishingly recorded the entire piece in one take! It was truly mesmerizing, as if Maa Saraswati herself had graced us with her blessings. We managed to capture Shankar live, which is a rare occurrence. You simply have to hear it for yourself.”

The track is anticipated to be released on September 1, 2025.