Shujaat Husain Khan

Shujaat Husain Khan is a Hindustani classical sitar player, composer, and vocalist associated with the Imdadkhani or Etawah gharana. Born in Kolkata in 1960, he is the son of Ustad Vilayat Khan and was introduced to music at a very young age, beginning his training on a specially designed sitar during early childhood. By the age of six, he had already begun performing publicly, marking the start of a long and sustained performance career.

His musical heritage spans several generations, including Ustad Enayat Khan and Ustad Imdad Khan, who were leading figures in the Imdadkhani tradition. Alongside his sitar training, Shujaat Khan was influenced by prominent vocalists and instrumentalists, which shaped his approach to rhythm, melody, and presentation. His sitar style is often associated with gayaki ang, reflecting vocal phrasing and expressive nuance.

Shujaat Khan has appeared at major music festivals and concert halls worldwide, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York, and venues across Europe, Asia, and North America. He has collaborated with musicians from diverse musical traditions, including Iranian composer Kayhan Kalhor, with whom he recorded albums as part of the ensemble Ghazal. Their work received a Grammy Award nomination in 2004.

In addition to performing, he has been invited as visiting faculty at institutions such as the Dartington School of Music, UCLA, and the University of Washington. His discography includes solo recordings, collaborative albums, and cross-genre projects, reflecting his sustained contribution to Indian classical music and global concert culture.