Being the son of renowned tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain's foray into Indian classical music was a given. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances established him as a national treasure in India. Over the years, Hussain has spread his musical genius by collaborating with many talented musicians all over the world; his partnership with the Beatles deserves a special mention here. Soon Hollywood came calling, and Hussain became an international phenomenon after composing for movies like Apocalypse Now and Little Buddha.