A Cricket in the Court of Akbar in the Classroom
A rich, accessible documentary for courses in ethnomusicology, world music, South Asian studies, cultural anthropology, and film.
Why This Film Works in the Classroom
A Cricket in the Court of Akbar offers something rare: a documentary that is simultaneously an accessible human story and a rigorous introduction to one of the world’s great musical traditions. It works for students with no prior exposure to Indian classical music and offers new depth to those already familiar with the tradition.
The film covers:
- The structure and philosophy of Hindustani classical music — raga, tala, improvisation
- The gharana system and the guru-shishya tradition of musical transmission
- The role of classical music in contemporary Indian cultural life
- Cross-cultural exchange, identity, and the experience of the outsider-participant
- The competitive landscape of traditional arts in modern India
- Documentary filmmaking as a mode of ethnographic inquiry
Suggested Courses
- Ethnomusicology / World Music
- South Asian Studies / South Asian Music
- Cultural Anthropology
- Music History — non-Western traditions
- Global Studies / Comparative Cultures
- Documentary Film Studies
- Music Education
Discussion Questions
- What assumptions did you bring to the viewing experience, and how did the film challenge or confirm them?
- How does the guru-shishya tradition differ from Western models of music education? What are the implications of each approach for the transmission of cultural knowledge?
- The film’s director is both filmmaker and participant. How does this dual role shape what we see — and what we don’t?
- What does the competition format reveal about the relationship between tradition and evaluation in Hindustani music?
- How do the musicians in the film talk about their music? What language do they use, and what does it tell us about how they understand what they do?
- What does it mean to “belong” to a musical tradition? Can an outsider ever truly enter one?
- In what ways is Hindustani classical music under pressure in contemporary India? How do the film’s subjects respond to these pressures?
Licensing for Educational Use
Educational licenses are available for classroom and institutional use. Licensing allows faculty to screen the film as part of a course curriculum, in-person or via course management systems, for the duration of a semester or academic year.
Licensing Options
All licenses are issued as a simple PDF agreement. Payment by check, PayPal, or invoice. Kanopy availability coming soon for institutions with existing Kanopy subscriptions.
Request a License or Screening
To request a license, ask a question, or arrange a classroom screening with filmmaker Q&A, please get in touch.