Sultan Khan

Ustad Sultan Khan was a legendary sarangi exponent whose artistry bridged classical tradition, film music, and global collaborations. Born on 15 April 1940 in the Sikar district of Rajasthan, he belonged to the Sikar Gharana and received rigorous training from his father, Ustad Gulab Khan. His command over the sarangi was marked by a deeply vocalized style, capable of expressing the full emotional and melodic range of Hindustani classical music.

He gave his first major performance at a young age and began his professional career with All India Radio in Rajkot in 1960. A turning point came when he accompanied Lata Mangeshkar during her visit to Rajkot, after which he was transferred to Mumbai. There, he became deeply involved with both the classical music circuit and the film industry, establishing himself as one of the most in-demand sarangi players and vocalists.

Ustad Sultan Khan performed with many of the greatest musicians of his time, including Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Kishori Amonkar, Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha, and Zakir Hussain. Internationally, he toured extensively and performed with Ravi Shankar on George Harrison’s Dark Horse World Tour. He was also a founding member of the fusion ensemble Tabla Beat Science, expanding the global presence of Indian classical instruments.

His contributions to film music were equally significant. He played and sang for acclaimed Indian and international films, including Gandhi, Heat and Dust, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Maqbool, Jab We Met, and several Merchant Ivory productions. His album Piya Basanti, created with K. S. Chithra, became a landmark release, earning international recognition and awards.

A dedicated guru, Ustad Sultan Khan trained several prominent musicians across genres while continuing to perform at prestigious venues worldwide, including the White House and Buckingham Palace. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010, he passed away in 2011, leaving behind a legacy defined by emotional depth, technical mastery, and an unmatched ability to make the sarangi speak like the human voice.