Ustad Zakir Hussain to grace IFFK opening ceremony

Thiruvananthapuram: The opening ceremony of the 20th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala will resonate to the pulsating sounds of Tabala wizard Ustad Zakir Hussain's percussive style.

Hussain, the Guest of Honour at the festival's curtain-raiser on December 4, will serenade the audience at Nishagandhi auditorium with his extensive repertoire of 'uthan', 'qaida' and 'rela', among other compositions.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will light the lamp, kicking off the ceremony and the week-long film gala, the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy, the organiser of the event, said here in a release.

Eminent filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui spearhead of the Iranian New Wave movement in the 1970s will be felicitated with the IFFK?s Lifetime Achievement Award during the inaugural ceremony for his work and contribution to Iran's cinematic renaissance.

French director Jean-Jacques Annaud's 3D spectacular 'Wolf Totem' will be the opening film of the festival, it said.

Based on the semi-autobiographical 2004 novel by Chinese author Lu Jiamin (using the pseudonym Jiang Rong), the movie follows a young student's journey from Beijing to 'civilise' the nomads of Inner Mongolia.

Preceding the film viewing will be the unveiling of the festival's Signature Film ? a 25-second haiku on the subtle interplay of light and shadow.

A much-awaited IFFK staple, the signature film has traditionally encapsulated the festival's philosophy and attitude, it said.

As part of the week-long event, the Academy has entered into a partnership with the city's cultural organisations to share the IFFK's spotlight and raised profile with Kerala's classical and traditional performing arts.

Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala Folklore Akademi and Bharat Bhavan will, over the week from December 5-10, conduct evening performances designed to both inform and entertain, it said.

Traditional dance forms like Kathakali, Theyyam, Padayani, Mohiniyattam and Kerala Nadanam will find expression at a number of venues as part of the programme. Besides this, there will also be jugalbandhi sessions conducted at the Bharat Bhavan auditorium, the release added.

IFFK 2015, Kerala's premier film festival, runs from December 4-11