Imrat Khan Biography 
Imrat Khan is a leading sitar and surbahar player of Etawah (Imdadkhani) gharana of Hindustani music. His family has inherited music for the past 7 generations till the 21st century including the youngest artists being Shujaat Khan, Zila Khan and Hidayat Khan, all well-established names of Indian classical music. He was born to Enayat Khan, one of the influential figures of music in the first half of 20th century who lived for a short life span of 43 years. Legendary sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan was his brother. Wahid Khan was his uncle. He was born in the legendary Etawah lineage of Hindustani classic music with the prominent figures being Ustad Sahebdad Khan and Ustad Imdad Khan.
Imrat Khan was born in Kolkata in a musical family who has served as court musicians of Mughal Empire. He was born to sitar maestro Enayat Khan, the son of legendary Imdad Khan. He lost his father at a younger age and hence brought up by his mother. Vijayat Khan, his elder brother has already become a star when the family moved to Mumbai in 1944. Then both the brothers learned extensively in Etawah gharana of music from their uncle Wahid Khan, Enayat Khan's brother. In 1952 both the brothers moved to Kolkata. From 1960’s onwards he started appearing in public as well as released many records. He played both sitar and surbahar.
His full performance practice starts with a surbahar alap in dhrupad ang followed by a shorter alap on the sitar leading into gat in traditional Imdadkhani style. Among his sons, Nishat, Irshad, Wajahat and Shafaatullah,and Azmat Khan are following their traditional style of music.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 15, 2014
