Mumbai’s theatre and film fraternity gathered under one roof on Saturday night as Prithvi Theatre hosted its Memorial Concert; an evening steeped in music, memory and mentorship. Titled Rehnuma, the concert paid tribute to the enduring spirit of the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain, celebrating his unwavering encouragement of young musicians.
The place was abuzz as actors, directors and theatre aficionados thronged the venue, reaffirming the deep cultural bond that Prithvi continues to nurture across generations. The evening began with the lamp lighting ceremony and a spirited performance by Dhol players.
Kunal Kapoor, Trustee, Prithvi Theatre, said, “For the 42nd Memorial Concert, we presented Rehnuma. It was an acoustic version of the exclusive show that we did at Lollapalooza India 2026.” The stripped-down format lent the evening a rare intimacy, allowing every note resonate deeply with the audience. Echoing the sentiment, Zahan Kapoor, Trustee, Prithvi Theatre, added, “Keeping in tune with Zakir Hussain’s dedication to music, collaboration and generosity and his support to young musicians, we brought together some of India’s finest young talent to perform and pay tribute to the spirit of the legendary maestro.” True to that vision, the concert brought together some of the country’s most exciting emerging musicians. The ensemble featured Zubin Balaporia on keys, Gino Banks on drums, Sheldon D’Silva on bass, Mehtab Ali Niazi on sitar, S. Akash on flute, Faizan Hussain on percussion, Ishaan Ghosh on tabla, and Shikhar Naad Qureshi on djembe. Their seamless interplay reflected the collaborative ethos that Ustad Zakir Hussain championed throughout his illustrious career. The evening was as much about community as it was about music. Among those present were Kunal Kapoor, Zahan Kapoor, Shaira Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Sanjna Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, Karisma Kapoor, Neila Devi, Louiz Banks, Agastya Nanda, Navya Naveli Nanda, Nikhil Nanda, Mahesh Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Neena Gupta, Feroze Abbas Khan, Akash Khurana, Ila Arun, Shishir Sharma, Kirti Kulhari, Ishita Arun, Ira Dubey, Divya Dutta, Vivaan Shah, Rajit Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Suchitra Pillai, Dolly Thakore, Nimrit Kaur, Sayani Ghosh, Vrajesh Hirjee, Aditya Rawal, Suneeta Rao and Bhamini Oza, among others.
