MUMBAI: Popular tabla maestro Zakir Hussain will perform at the opening ceremony of the 20th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram on 4 December.

He will perform his repertoire of 'uthaan', 'qaida' and 'rela', among other forms and compositions.

The 20th edition of the IFFK, which will end on 11 December, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

On the opening day of the gala, eminent filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui -- who spearheaded the Iranian New Wave movement in the 1970s -- will be presented with the IFFK's Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Iran's cinematic renaissance.

The opening film will be French director Jean-Jacques Annaud's 3D spectacle ‘Wolf Totem’.

Popular Brazilian filmmaker Julio Bressane will head the five-member core jury of the IFFK.

A total of 180 movies, both national and international, will be screened at this year's event.