About
Zila Khan is one of India's foremost Sufi and Hindustani classical vocalists, the daughter and formal disciple of the legendary sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan. Named after the raag Zila Kaafi, she is the first and only woman singer of the Imdadkhani gharana, a lineage spanning seven generations, and was formally designated her father's disciple and successor.
Khan sings Sufi, Bhakti, classical and semi-classical forms in several languages, and pioneered the Sufi-Jazz concert at the Jazz Utsav Festival and the Rumi Yatra tour of the United States. She is also a theatre and film actress, appearing in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani and the lead in Lillete Dubey's play Gauhar. She founded the Ustadgah Foundation to train underprivileged children and has received the Ghalib Award and the Incredible India Award.
The artistry
Khan brings the vocal-like gayaki of the Imdadkhani sitar tradition to her singing, moving across Sufi, Bhakti, classical and semi-classical forms and into Indo-jazz, flamenco and world music. She sings in eight languages and is known for immersive, aesthetically woven fusion concerts.
Zila Khan offers a host a deeply rooted yet adventurous Sufi programme, from traditional kalaam to Sufi-jazz and Rumi-themed concerts, with the added dimension of her theatre work. Her lineage and range make her a distinctive booking. [Atlas Assessment]
A pathbreaking woman artist of a great instrumental gharana and a leading interpreter of Sufi and mystic poetry.