A teacher is often known by his students. For the late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, there is no dearth of famed pupils. From Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt to Shilpa Rao, artistes trace their singing roots to him. Among them is also Padma Shri-awardee singer Hariharan, who will take to the stage  at Haazri to offer his tribute to his guru, alongside Ustad Zakir Hussain on January 17.

“Rabbani, Khan Sahib’s son, wanted us to perform together for the barsi. For us, it is a blessing that we have been invited to sing,” the singer says. While Hariharan learned the nuances of Hindustani music under the tutelage of ‘Khan Sahib’, Hussain was a protégé. The singer reveals, “He had been very close to Zakir bhai since the latter’s childhood. When Zakir bhai was a college kid, he would play with Khan Sahib in his concerts. Ustad Allah Rakha Khan and Khan Sahib used to stay close to each other  in Mahim.”