Zila Khan Biography 
Zila Hussain Khan is a famous sufi singer from Bengal who performs in the tradition of Imdadkhani gharana. She is the daughter of legendary sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan. She was born in a musical family that inherited music for the past 7 generations. Her grandfather, Ustad Enayat Khan; her great-grandfather, Ustad Imdad Khan; and her great-great-grandfather, Ustad Sahebdad Khan were all doyens of Imdadkhani gharana of Hindustani music. Her siblings too are famous musicians. Shujaat Khan is a sitar player of the Imdadkhani gharana. Hidayat Khan is a famous sitarist. She has one sister also.
Zila Khan was born in Kolkata to legendary sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan. Her mother was Begum Monisha. She was named by her father after Amir Khusrow's raag, Zila Kaafi. She started learning music from her father at a younger age. She used to practise from 14-16 hours a day and mastered all compositions of her father. She was initiated to live concerts by her father, which was not common for women in those days. So, she holds the distinction of being the only female of Imdadkhani gharana who performed in concerts live. Including hers, four generations have recorded and released music records.
She is verse in singing Sufi music qaul, qalbana, gul and folk music. In 2006, she made a documentary on the life and music of her father Ustad Vilayat Khan’s life, called Spirit to Soul which won many awards. She has also received The Roll of Honour by Indian Prime Minister and the Ghalib Award. Khan was a Cultural Advisor and Official Member of the Organizing Committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She started a school in 2008 and named is as Ustadgah.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 14, 2014
