U-zhaan Brings Tabla to Animated Adaptation of Indian Artist's Memoir
Tabla virtuoso U-zhaan contributes percussion to a Japanese-Indian co-production short film based on Bhajju Shyam's autobiographical picture book. The animation premieres at a special exhibition in Kyoto this July.
Tabla master U-zhaan is lending his percussion skills to a new short film adaptation of Indian artist Bhajju Shyam's upcoming picture book "MORIBITO: The Keeper of Memories." The Japan-India collaboration will screen as part of a special exhibition at JR Kyoto Isetan from July 15-21, 2026.
Shyam, a Gond artist from India known for the internationally acclaimed picture book "The Night Life," is publishing his first self-illustrated memoir through a Japanese publisher. The accompanying animation pairs Shyam's own narration in Hindi with U-zhaan's tabla and traditional bansuri flute work by Taro Terahara, creating a companion piece to the visual storytelling of the book.
U-zhaan, a Kawagoe-based tabla player trained under world-renowned percussionists Zakir Hussain and Onindo Chatterjee, brings substantial credentials to the project. Beyond his classical training, he's collaborated across genres—from his work with experimental group ASA-CHANG & Junrei to soundtracks like the 2016 film about manga artist Kazuo Umezu. His 2019 piece "Chilla: 40 Days Drumming" at the Aichi Triennale demonstrated his commitment to pushing the boundaries of tabla performance art.
The Kyoto exhibition will feature the picture book's advance sale, original artwork displays, reproductions, and exclusive merchandise alongside screenings of the short film. A follow-up event runs at Daikanyama Tsutaya Book Store in Tokyo from August 15 through September 6.
This collaboration highlights the growing intersection between K-Pop culture and broader Asian artistic communities, where musicians increasingly work across traditional and contemporary mediums. U-zhaan's participation extends beyond his recent solo work—he released "Tabla Dhi, Tabla Dha" in June after an 11-year hiatus and recently contributed arrangement work to composer Shuta Hasunuma's new composition "AURA."
The animation will be presented in Hindi with Japanese and English subtitles, making Shyam's story accessible to international audiences while preserving the artist's original voice and cultural context.