Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical drama film based on the life of the prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto. About this event Manto Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical film based on the life of the prominent author Saadat Hasan Manto, written and directed by Nandita Das. Manto is based on the 1940s post-Independence […]
East Meets Middle East (EMME) is a musical collective across continents celebrating the rich traditions of the Middle East and South Asia. About this event **Limited Seating Capacity. ** Early Ticket Purchase Recommended. What happens when Indian sarod and tabla meet Middle Eastern oud and darbuka? East Meets Middle East (EMME) is a musical collective across continents celebrating the rich traditions of the […]
360-degree view of Afghan culture through music, poetry, art and cultural heritage. About this event South Asia Institute Presents HEART OF AFGHANISTAN X QAIS ESSAR Saturday, September 24, 2022 Seated Free The Heart of Afghanistan features four brilliant Afghan musicians: famed singer and Afghan TV star Ahmad Fanoos on vocals & harmonium, his sons Elham […]
FREEDOM FESTIVAL DAY 02 Celebrating 75 Years of Independence with TWO days of very special music and dance performances. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partitition Anti-Memorial Project Day 02 LINE UP 1PM: Zeshan B: Chicago-based, multi-instrumentalist soul, opera, gospel, and ghazal singer, who is also a songwriter and recording […]
FREEDOM FESTIVAL: Celebrating 75 Years of Independence I Day 01 Celebrating 75 Years of Independence with TWO days of very special music and dance performances. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partitition Anti-Memorial Project DAY 01 LINEUP: 1PM: DJ Spin Cycle: Ankur Malhotra: Delhi and Midwest-based record label owner and […]
Through experiential art installations “Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories” investigates the Partition of India in 1947. This year marks 75 years since the Partition of India in 1947, which created Pakistan, and eventually, Bangladesh in 1971. Pritika Chowdhry’s experiential art installations are temporary 'anti-memorials' to the Partition. Often described as the Holocaust of South Asia, the […]
A special evening of music and conversation with Chicago's celebrated musical supergroup, Funkadesi. Known for their own high-energy blend of music that ranges from South Asian classical, folk and film melodies to West African, Caribbean, Latin, Brazilian and Reggae blended with American Funk and Soul music. They will perform an intimate "unplugged" acoustic set of […]
Renowned physician, scientist, and author, Dr. Azra Raza, recites a selection of Mirza Ghalib's powerful poetry. She translates and interprets the powerful lyrics in her very distinctive style that has endeared to her audiences all over the US and overseas.
UNVEILED: A solo performance presented by Rohina Malik. About this event Award-winning Chicago-based playwright, actress, and artist, Rohina Malik performs her critically acclaimed one-woman show portraying four different veiled Asian women who share their lived experiences after 9/11.
An evening celebrating the folk music from West Bengal and Bangladesh, presented by Ochin Pakhi, a young, fun-loving, enthusiastic, and spiritually inclined ensemble of Chicago-based musicians. Accompanied by traditional instruments, the group will be performing songs and poems of the Nobel laureate, poet, and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore; Bengali philosopher, mystic, songwriter, social reformer, and thinker Fakir […]
The South Asia Institute will host Amin Gulgee Performance “Kiss of the Spider Woman". About this event This will be a collaborative performance work with 13-17 participants which will take place over a period of 77 minutes. The approach will be cross-disciplinary as Gulgee will engage actors, dancers, visual artists and musicians to work with […]
Film Screening and Discussion About this event **Please note that this is an in-person event** Ravi and Anoushka Shankar Live in Bangalore (2012. 2hr.24min) On February 7, 2012, two months before his 92nd birthday, Ravi Shankar performed with his daughter Anoushka at the sold-out Bangaluru Palace Grounds in Bangalore, India. With a set including Raga […]