savethesitar

The Matka

At Save the Sitar, we have covered many diverse types of instruments, from sarangis to tablas. Continuing this tradition, today we will cover an unusual yet amazing instrument: the matka, an instrument which may appear to the uninitiated as a … pot?! What’s this? We cover instruments, not cooking utensils! Or at least we thinkContinue reading “The Matka”

The Circle Unbroken

When we entered the shop of Ziauddin, the 75-year-old Pride of Performance winning sitar-maker was working on a sarod’s wooden frame in deep concentration. He looked up to welcome us, and putting his tools away, sat down for an interview. From time to time his eyes wandered to the instruments hanging on the walls, theContinue reading “The Circle Unbroken”

Saleem Haider

Saleem Haider (b. 1949) is a music director who was born in Lahore. His teacher was the famous Akhtar Hussain Akhiyan, who worked on films such as Gulbadan, Aas Paas, etc. His paternal family were stage artists while his maternal family included famed sarangi player Ustad Nathu Khan, who was his uncle. His grandfather andContinue reading “Saleem Haider”

Ziauddin

Ziauddin (b. 1945) is a sitar-maker who was born in British India. He is the son of the famous sitar-maker Ustad Sher Muhammad Khan Sahib, who taught him how to make instruments when he was in fifth grade. Amongst his father’s students, Rikhi Ram, who supplied sitars to the Beatles, features perhaps most prominently. Ziauddin’sContinue reading “Ziauddin”

Dilawar Jameel

Dilawar Jameel (b. 1989) is a tabla-maker who was born in Lahore, though his family comes from Rongal Pind, a village near the city of Wazirabad. His grandfather used to be based in the village and later on moved to Lahore His family has traditionally been making instruments for a long time, with him statingContinue reading “Dilawar Jameel”