Three short films by Renuka George

These three short films by Renuka George -- filmmaker and translator who lives between Paris and New Delhi -- are an opportunity to discover, in great intimacy with the artists, some of the most beautiful Indian musical and choreographic traditions. A precious work of memory that invites us to cross space and time.

Dagarvani, a 52-minute film produced by Arte, presents a moment of life in Jaïpur with the Dagar family, whose members are Dhrupad music singers for 20 generations. Dhrupad’s practice begins with the tanpura’s tone set. By vibrating a string of this great instrument with such a peculiar sound that the two musicians instinctively feel what rag is going to be sung. The produced sound "acts on the soul", and it is this which gives birth to music

Ustad Asad Ali Khan, a 70-minute film is dedicated to one of the last great masters of rudra vînâ, a classical music instrument from northern India. Ustad Asad Ali Khan was the last to have devoted his life to this instrument. In this portrait, we discover him at home and during private concerts. He tells the story of the extraordinary instrument. The film was funded by The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and LODH Bank Switzerland.

Kathakali, a 26-minute film, introduces us to a dance school in South India, where children develop impressive body control. Kathakali, a traditional style of theatre dance in Kerala, is an extremely complex art that requires total mastery of all body muscles.

Please note each broadcast will be preceded by the filmmaker introduction.