Music for a cause

In a first of its kind musical show in India, Chennai witnessed the fusion of Tamil Gaana, rap and rock titled The Casteless Collective. Several gaana singers from north Chennai and Dopeadelicz rap band from Mumbai's Dharavi area (Asia's largest slum) performed 20 Tamil songs with live instruments and enthralled thousands in the audience in a stadium packed to the rafters.

While Gaana is people's music, which rubbishes all kinds of superstitious beliefs, rap songs helped depict the living condition of black people, some of which also played a vital role during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and hence a fusion of both genres was attempted here to make it relevant to the conditions in which India's poor live.

The songs were not only for entertainment, but were something akin to African black revolutionary songs - music used to tell people's own stories and their fight for rights. There were songs on fishermen and farmers' plight, besides platform songs and on love and honour killing. Many were on topical issues plaguing our society.  Interestingly, one of the rap songs portrayed the great social reformer Ambedkar's life history.     

The show was an initiative of filmmaker Pa Ranjith (of Kabali fame) through his Neelam Cultural Centre along with Madras Records.  Talking about his new initiative, Ranjith says, "My aim is to bring these unsung heroes to the spotlight.

The art of music should speak the politics of the people and bring to the fore their problems and the fight for their rights. Like how our society is divided by caste, art forms are also split here. All the art forms of Tamil Nadu should come under one umbrella without any differentiating. This 'Casteless Collective' is just a small beginning towards the larger goal."

Several film personalities including composer Santhosh Narayanan, Kaali Venkat, Tinku, RJ Ramesh, Karthik, Maari Selvaraj, Meera Kathiravan, CPI (M) state secretary G.Ramakrishnan and many writers and politicians were present on the occasion.  

On the career front, Ranjith is directing Superstar Rajinikanth once again in Kaala, which is bankrolled by the latter's son-in-law Dhanush in his home banner Wunderbar Films.