Ustad Zakir Hussain and Hariharan mesmerize Kolkata

Kolkatans were in for a musical treat when Hariharan chose the city to launch his latest album on Sunday.

With tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain joining in for a performance, it was sure a night that music lovers in the city won't forget in a hurry. The audience too knew that it was a rare occasion to see the two together, so they braved a sudden outpour to be a part of the soiree. Hariharan set the mood for the evening with Kesariya balam, followed by Jiya jiya na jiya, Koi saya zilmil and Shahar dar shahar as Hussain gave him company on tabla. "It is chilly in Kolkata, but I, thankfully, got a warm welcome," joked Hariharan.

When the duo performed Yeh aine se, a ghazal sung like the blues, wah-wahs echoed along with thunderous applause. "Hearing the duo is like a dream. They complemented each other, and their on-stage chemistry was amazing," said Jayanti Majumdar, a teacher. The evening had the likes of veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee, Srijit Mukherji, Ustad Rashid Khan, Bickram Ghosh and wife Jaya in attendance.