Dr. Ustad Mujtaba Hussain
The Pied Piper of Mahendroo
Dreamy, ethereal, rhapsodic, at times impetuous, even insistent, sometimes melancholic, sometimes romantic, even erotic. The modest, humble flute, traditionally associated with Lord Krishna in Indian mythology, has a new address: the enigmatic Mujtaba Hussain. The first tentative but melodious, lilting sounds of the flute arising from the banks of Ganga at Mahendroo in Patna, being played by a tiny eight year old Mujtaba, have come a long way, travelling all over the world and to all corners of India, to etch an irascible name for itself in the hearts and minds of music lovers across the globe.
The Grooming
Perhaps the only Muslim Basuri player of repute in India, Mujtaba was born on November 4, 1972, into a family dedicated to music. His grandfather, Rahim Bakhsh Khan, a renowned shehnai player, received his lessons in music from the renowned Ustad Farzand Ali of Kolkata. But that was more of a hobby, he was a rich landlord, with a flourishing business in stones in Gaya. Mujtaba’s father Ustad Peer Bakhsh and uncle Fahimullah Khan, both of whom had trained under Ustad Farzand Ali, took to playing shehnai and flute respectively. Later, both of them joined the Patna centre of All India Radio. Young Mujtaba took his first tentative steps into the world of music with his father reluctantly giving him sargams to practice. Barley eight, he would always fiddle with the flute, struggling to make tunes. Seeing this, his father, who was equally adept in both shehnai and flute, started giving him lessons and thus the journey began, which has now taken Mujtaba to new heights in the world of music. The finer points of the flute were explained to him by his uncle Fahimullah Khan. Presently he is working for the Department of Dance, Punjabi University, Patiala since 2006.
The Musical Journey
When Mujtaba was barely 11 years old, he represented Patna at the All India Child Festivel at Allahabad in 1983. His companion on stage was Guru Bhola Nath on harmonium. Guru Bhola Nath was the teacher of legendary basuri player Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasiya. Overwhelmed by the child’s performance, he hugged him on the stage. In 1986 Mujtaba topped the all India Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti and became a name to reckon with even at that tender age. In 1991 he bagged the gold at the all India University competition. He has a degree in Sangeet Visharad and Sangeet Bhaskar from Pracheen kala Kendra, Chandigarh, topping the list of successful candidates. In the meantime, he had also completed his BA Honours in Urdu from the BN College in Patna and had joined the Patna centre of All India Radio. He also took the degree of Sangeet Acharya from Darbhanga University. Subsequently, he shifted to Mumbai to try his luck in the Bollywood. He has given music for at least 300 films, including the Sunny Deol starer Gadar and Virasat, featuring Anil Kapoor. He has been associated with renowned music directors such as S/Sh. Kalyanji Anandji, Ravindra Jain, Adesh Srivastav, Anand Milind, Uttam Singh for not only playing the flute but also for music compositions.
The Accolades
Prestigious awards naturally came easy for this gifted artist. He has received many awards such as Shri Lahari Samman (Maharashtra), Sangeet kala Ratna Samman (Bihar), and Pd. Rameshwar Mishra Samman, New Breath Dawn (UNESCO, Agra), Vocational Excellence Award (International Rotary Club, Mumbai), Jain Mahamandal Smman, Indore, Buddha Samman, Bodh Gaya (Bihar) for contribution to Indian classical music. Mujtaba has evolved his own style of flute playing which is an amazing amalgamation of Gayaki and tantra. Besides having an absolute mastery over the classical form, Mujtaba has redefined the folk and light music too, elevating it to great levels. Supremely gifted, Mujtaba has displayed his mastery both as a soloist and an accompanist. His sound grooming has equipped him with an unprecedented talent of composing and arranging music as well. No wonder, he has worked with almost all renowned music composers in the Bollywood.
Globe Trotting
Mujtaba’s music has touched shores across the world. In 1997 he performed in Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Botswana, Johannesburg and Kenya on the occasion of Golden Jubilee celebration of Indian Independence organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. In 1998, he performed in Kuwait during the closing ceremony of Golden Jubilee celebration. In 1999, he travelled to South America performing in various cities as part of International Spring Festival. He performed in Paris in 1999 during the Indian Classical Music Concert. In 2004, he enthralled audiences in Switzerland at the Culture All festival of classical concert where Pd. Ravi Shankar was the chief patron. Since 2004, he is a regular face in Indian Classical music concerts in Europe. Be it Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland or Norway, he has played in different cities enthralling the Indian music lovers since 2004. During 2009, he was invited to participate in the Music seminar held by Milano University, Italy and Geneva, where his performance was appreciated and recognized by one and all. Chief patron of both the seminars, organized by Cultur All, were none other than Pt. Ravi Shankar.
The Journey Continues
Ustad Mujtaba Hussain, who has made an outstanding contribution to the world of Indian music, has added another big feather in his cap… he now holds a doctorate degree in music from the Punjabi University. Other than being a renowned flute maestro, he is also a musicologist and academician of repute now. As a teacher and researcher, he has been adding value to the lives of hundreds of students. But the journey continues for this long-haired magic maker, who can weave magic with a simple looking bamboo flute, carrying you aloft in the process. The flute is both the saaz and awaaz for him, the only means of expression: be it love, romance, melancholy, or ibaadat. There are miles and miles to go yet.