Sunday, July 11 at 1:00 PM

The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum

dir. Sumantra Ghosal, India, 2003, 104 mins, color, Hindi w/ English subtitles

A must-see for fans of Zakir Hussain and Indian classical music,

The Speaking Hand charts the life and work of India’s leading tabla (drum) player. The first half of the film explores Hussain’s early upbringing and training, and the second half covers his musical career in India and the West – where he has performed, among others, with Mickey Hart and Planet Drum. The film includes fascinating footage in which Hussain demonstrates various Indian and international drum techniques and sounds, as well as exclusive concert footage with world-renowned exponents of Indian classical music and dance, such as his father Ustad Alla Rakha (tabla), Ravi Shankar (sitar), Birju Maharaj (kathak–dance), Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute).