Zakir to bid adieu to the tabla?

Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain is contemplating bidding adieu to the percussion instrument -- and the world of classical music -- with which he mesmerised and enthralled millions across the globe.

Zakir Hussain, currently living with his family in California, is reportedly upset over commercialisation of music, sources close to him told PTI.

They add that another reason could be the nagging pain in his fingers.

When contacted Zakir Hussain's manager Sannidhi Patel said that she would "neither confirm nor deny" the reports of his saying goodbye to the tabla.

The sources said Zakir Hussain would himself make an announcement in this regard by the end of July.

Zakir Hussain, 44, is the son of the renowned tabla player late Ustad Alla Rakha, long-time accompanist of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Hussain, who learnt the tabla from his father, gave his first international performance at the age of 12.

PTI