Impressions on resistance songs by Casteless Collective

 

Questioning caste through music 

In James Baldwin’s book -Dark Days he talks about Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith , Ela waters  and other jazz singers, he mentions about how he was introduced to them through his mentor.  If Baldwin was physically present today, Casteless Collective –India’s largest ensemble band --too would make it to that list. The band’s Gana songs – a song style in tamil- would fall in the genre that records Baldwin's anger and Ella’s musical articulation of emotions through songs. 

Castless collective was initiated by renowned tamil filmmaker P A Ranjith.

 Ranjith’s politics is evident through his take on issues and his contributions in the film industry.  By casting mainstream hero- actor Rajinikanth whose political stance doesn’t align with the social issues that Ranjith’s movie  -Kala(2018) -talked about led to many discussion in the movie industry. 

Ranjith’s rationale was evident back then too where casting a mainstream hero brought in political and social attention to the story of resistance of the oppressed -his film talked about. Casteless collective is on the similar lines; one cannot resist swaying to the beats of the gana songs.  In one of the songs titled–Quota -the lines say: 

Enga Paatana Pol Naanga Ippo Kaiya Katta Maattom -Unlike our forefathers we won't remain calm

 Udhavi Illada Adhan Per Udhavi Illada- Concession this isn't
Un Kaaladiyil Pozhaipadhellam Padhavi Illada-

-You have no right to take away my right, this isn’t charity,

to slog under your feet is no respect, -

how dare you reduce 1000 years of our fight to freebies, 

The crowd repeats the lines with dance steps, every line of the band’s songs talks about caste, gender and politics.  The beauty and power about casteless collective is it will make the anti-reservation agitators too sway to the beats that sings- Udhavi Illada Adhan per Udhavi Illadi- This isn’t charity – 

Suited in blue, chanting Jai Bhim, lived experiences chronicled as songs in every performance – a music crew from all parts of India –forms the band. The band has gathered a music crew with artists like Muthu, Isaivani and Arivu performs revolutionary teachings of Dr. B R Ambedkar -aligned in similar language of black resistance.  ''Talking songs' like Parai ,more like jazz that you dance to but sung in funerals, a fusion of hip hop and  rap in tamil that talks about layers of oppression and a genre of its own is what the band offer.

Baldwin talked about how tired it is to wait for liberation , in one of the interviews Baldwin said that love is the most important political movements and the world runs with the love of a very few people.  Documentary on Casteless Collective- Prologue- showcase what music can do to promote this very politics tailored with questions on injustice and love.