ROUND 4

Social Justice
THR the rise of teenagers as
forefront of social justice
movements.
THBT social justice movements should not
actively try to appeal to allies (eg. the
feminist movement appealing to men,
LGBTQ+ movement appealing to cis-het
individuals etc.)
 The Casteless Collective is a band, which
performs in Tamil and was formed when
filmmaker Pa Ranjith's organisation, Neelam
Cultural Centre, collaborated with Tenma's
label Madras Records.
The group has rappers, rock musicians and gaana singers
(belonging to the oppressed/minority caste)-a form of
music that is usually identified with funeral music as it is
sung only in homes where someone has passed away.
The band has used Gaana along with the use of hip hop
and other modern genres of music have been blended to
provide stories of the streets of Chennai, stories of
casteism and caste related struggles, celebration of their
identity
The Music Academy in Mylapore, Chennai
historically has been predominantly a
savarna space wherein Brahmins and upper
classes have performed Carnatic Music
over centuries. In the Margazhi months
(Usually December-January), Chennai and
some parts of Tamil Nadu famously have
Carnatic music festivals.
 The Margazhiyil Makkal Isai music festival (started in
2020), conducted by Neelam Cultural Centre, with its vision
to give space to other musicians from oppressed classes to
showcase their talents and provide them a platform. In its
2021 edition, this music festival's final day was held at the
Music Academy and one of the Chief Guest stated that
"Artists who have been sidelined or ignored all this while
have been invited to perform on a stage in Mylapore that has
traditionally been used by people who claim to be superior
to the rest."
 TH as the Dalit Movement regrets the
Margazhiyil Makkal Isai music festival
being performed at the Music Academy