Babar Latif Khan

Babar Latif is a leading tabla artist of the Delhi Gharana, born on 22 January in Delhi, India, into an eminent family of classical musicians. He belongs to the fifth generation of a distinguished musical lineage and is the son of the legendary tabla maestro Late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan, one of the most respected torchbearers of the Dilli Gharana tradition. His initiation into tabla began at an early age under the direct guidance of his father, where he absorbed the foundational techniques, repertoire, and aesthetic values of the gharana. Following this, he underwent rigorous and advanced training under the Khalifa of the Delhi Gharana, the late Ustad Munnu Khan Sahib, further deepening his command over the traditional baaj and repertoire.

On his maternal side, Babar Latif inherits an equally rich musical heritage. His mother, Begum Khursheed Latif, was the granddaughter of Ustad Chand Khan Sahib, the vocal Khalifa of the Delhi Gharana, which firmly rooted him in both instrumental and vocal traditions of the gharana. This dual inheritance has played a vital role in shaping his sensitivity towards melody, layakari, and accompaniment aesthetics.

Babar Latif’s tabla playing is widely recognized for its technical precision, tonal clarity, rhythmic strength, and spontaneous improvisation. His baaj reflects the authentic Delhi Gharana style, characterized by powerful yet refined compositions, crisp articulation, and a strong command over traditional kaydas, relas, and peshkars. Equally accomplished as a soloist and accompanist, he has shared the stage with several eminent national and international artists across vocal, instrumental, and dance genres.

He has accompanied distinguished musicians such as Padma Vibhushan Pandit Rajan and Pandit Sajan Mishra, Padma Shri Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Ustad Nishat Khan, Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi, Pandit Ajay Prasanna, Pandit Rajendra Prasanna, Ustad Ayaan Ali Bangash, Vidushi Sunanda Sharma, Vidushi Vidha Lal, Padma Shri Sunayana Hazarilal, and many other leading artists. He has also collaborated internationally with musicians including Jonathan Mayer, Josh Feinberg, Bianca Gismonti, and Julio Falavigna. Notably, he recorded with Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt for the album Ananta Music.

Babar Latif has represented Indian classical music at major international festivals and venues such as the BBC Proms Indian Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London, festivals across Canada, the UK, Brazil, Uzbekistan, and several other global cultural platforms. His excellence has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Taal Ratan Award, Sangat Saadhak Samman, Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan Smriti Samman, Taal Shree Award, Swarveni Ratan Samman, and Bharat Vandan Samman. He is a Grade ‘A’ artist of All India Radio (Delhi) and an empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, continuing to uphold and propagate the rich legacy of the Delhi Gharana worldwide.