Zakir and the super bol

The Guide gets ad filmmaker Sumantra Ghoshal talking about the first Indian documentary on Ustad Zakir Hussain, which will be screened as part of NCPA's Anubhuti Festival

The Guide gets ad filmmaker Sumantra Ghoshal talking about the first Indian documentary on Ustad Zakir Hussain, which will be screened as part of NCPA's Anubhuti Festival

Ad film maker Sumantra Ghoshal unabashedly admits that while he enjoys music like anyone else, he was neither an expert nor a groupieu00a0 when he made Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum almost two decades ago. The Bengali ad filmmaker met Zakir for the first time in the late 80s to shoot the first Wah Taj commercial for a tea brand.

We met the 53 year-old filmmaker at his South Mumbai residence for a recap of music history. "We had two or three days in Agra and nowhere to go," recalls Ghoshal of his first meeting with Zakir, "I had access to the man, who I can only describe as a genius and was already a star by then." Ghoshal explains why the tabla fascinated him: "It is the only instrument that bridges so many genres -- Carnatic, Rock, Jazz and Dance music and you have to admit Zakir was a good-looking subject for a film. Strangely, there were no films on him and I was pretty tired of making ads, having done so for 10 years."

Ghoshal followed Zakir on his tour of America including the Planet Drum Tour with The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, as well as other tours. On these trips Ghoshal realised what set Zakir apart. "Unlike any other musician I'd met, Zakir didn't need anyone to explicate his thoughts on life and music. He's very articulate and intelligent -- his combination of intelligent, emotional and philosophical attitude is rare to find.

"Speaking Hand delves into Zakir's philosophy of music, how he discovered tones and sounds, and includes some fantastic footage of the late tabla legend and Zakir's father Ustad Alla Rakha Khan; making it relevant to fans and students alike. "I haven't found a musician who has Zakir's range, power of invention and precise musicality."

So Ghoshal put life on hold for three years, invested personal funds and shot a 3.5 hour film simply titled Zakir. The length of the film "killed" its audience, admits Ghoshal in a self-deprecatory tone, and the director edited it into a two-part film that ran into 104 minutes. Whether the film will ever be available commercially (read on the shelves in DVD format) depends on Zakir, says Ghoshal, who doesn't mind the fact that the film gathers dust until a festival like Anubhuti comes along to revisit it.

Anubhuti Festival Schedule
Violins for Peace: Global Music Fusion, a violin concert covering a range of genres -- Western Classical, Chinese Folk and Gypsy music -- led by violin maestro L Subramaniam featuring eight violinists
ON: January 8, 7.30 pm at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA. Tickets: Rs 1,000, Rs 750,
Rs 500, Rs 300
Crossings: Explorings the facets of Lady Macbeth, is an Indian music and dance performance conceptualised by Vikram Iyer who reinterprets Shakespeare's muse.
ON: January 9, 5 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA. Tickets: Rs 300, Rs 250
Crescendo, a concert of original bandishes composed and rendered by legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar.
ON: January 9, 7.30 pm at Tata Theatre, NCPA. Tickets: Rs 500, Rs 300, Rs 200, Rs 100

On January 8 at 4.30 pm at Godrej Dance Theatre, NCPA, Yogakshema, Nariman Point. Call 66223737
Entry Free