Page last updated at 17:00 GMT, Tuesday, 17 March 2009
More from The Strand
Harriett Gilbert and Mark Coles welcome you to the weekday arts show, The Strand.
On Today's Show
International Prize for Arabic Fiction
The Strand speaks to Youssef Ziedan, winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2009. His book Beelzebub is set in fifth century Upper Egypt and northern Syria and looks at a critical turning point in Christian history. How do the internal fights within a budding religion resonate today?
The Burning Plain
Guillermo Arriaga, the critically acclaimed screenwriter of Babel, 21 Grams and Amores Perros talks to The Strand about his directorial debut. The Burning Plain stars Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.
Munem Wasif
An exhibition of work by the Bangladeshi documentary photographer Munem Wasif highlights the environmental chaos that has been wrought on the Satkhira region of Bangladesh as a result of climate change and the proliferation of shrimp-farming.
Assamese Music
With the success of the Slumdog Millionaire film and soundtrack, Indian music is in the spotlight. But is it all Hindi-pop and Bollywood? The BBC's Laura Hubber turned her back on AR Rahman and travelled to Delhi and the rural Northeast of India to find out about the current state of the traditional Indian music scene.
