Zunain Halim Jaffer Khan

Living Legacy in Music Innovation

“To the world, Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan was an artist in the true syncretic sense, a distinct innovator moving forward the tradition of Indian classical music, equally at home with exuberant riffs and jazz improvisation as well as the gravitas of classic Indian cinema.

For his disciples, the sublime Jafferkhani Baaj is a way of life, and a reminder of a teacher who shared his many gifts willingly, generously and lovingly with them. For me, baba was a nurturing and supportive Guru, patient and inspiring and whom I am grateful and proud to call my father.” — Zunain Halim Jaffer Khan

“True representative of Jafferkhani Baaj. …Zunain’s performances demonstrate a profound knowledge of variegated taan patterns and other technical nuances of Hindustani classical music.”

— Padmashri Pt. Bhajan Sopori

  • Performer

    Zunain Khan has emerged as one of the foremost sitarists of his generation and is the principal exponent of the Jafferkhani Baaj, an innovation of his eminent father and guru Padmabhushan Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan. Zunain represents the 5th generation of the Indore Beenkar Gharana of music in the lineage of Ustad Ghairat Khan, Ustad Murawat Khan, Ustad Jaffer Khan, and his internationally acclaimed father. Recognized for a unique subtlety in his approach and rendition of ragas, Zunain has developed national and international recognition leaving his audiences enthralled by truly delivering the legacy of the Jafferkhani Baaj, and conveying the essence and the very beauty of sitar music. 

  • Composer

    Zunain was the official cultural ambassador at the Indian Republic Day Celebration in Beijing, officiated by then Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. Other select national and international performances include Joenju Sori Festival in Korea, Festival D’ETE Nantes in France, Cal Arts in the U.S., and Tansen Samaroh, Gwalior and the International Rondalla Plucked String Festival, Philippines. He has collaborated with Indian classical musicians such as Abhay Rustom Sopori in performing sitar-santoor duets, and with Guggenheim Fellows, Flamenco artists Pedro Cortes and La Conja, and Bharatanatyam danseuse Rajika Puri on a unique Flamenco-Bharatanatyam project “Paani,” which premiered at the National Center for Performing Arts in Mumbai. 

  • Educator

    Zunain was a Ministry of Human Resources and Development research fellow on various styles of Sitar baaj . A graded artist with All India Radio (AIR), he is Director of the Halim Academy of Sitar where he currently teaches and oversees the legacy of his esteemed father and guru through festivals and performances in Mumbai and all over India.

    Zunain is frequently invited to conduct music workshops and lecture demonstrations as a teaching artist the world over. He was a resident teaching artist and performer at the University at Madison-Wisconsin as a Khorana Scholar.

    Please visit Halim Academy of Sitar page for music instruction and enrollment.

“Zunain is a brilliant musician who has learned from his father, the distinct style of Jafferkhani Baaj maintaining the guru-shishya parampara.”

— Padma Vibhushan Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma

Sufiana Rang

Shri Zunain Khan performs Sufiana Rang in raga Khamaj

Raga Madhyami

Shri Zunain Khan performs Raga Madhyami accompanied by Shri Aditya Kalyanpur on Tabla

Raga Bairagi

Shri Zunain Khan performs Raga Bairagi for the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Delhi (ICCR)