Embracing the masculine with the female at Bengaluru’s October Jam

Maraa Collective is again with their October Jam Pageant, inviting artistes from everywhere in the nation to carry out and showcase their work on this 12 months’s theme ‘Stone Flowers,’ which merges the ideas of masculinity and femininity. 

Maraa was based in 2008 by three buddies who wished to make use of areas in Bengaluru for inventive expression as the town was on the cusp of huge infrastructural developments, because of which many had been getting displaced. Ekta Mittal, one of many co-founders of Maraa says, “We wished to characterize voices that aren’t dominant, and problem the established order.”

This 12 months, Maraa is certainly difficult the established order with their theme. “Maraa carried out a analysis research about masculinity over the past two years, and we’ll showcase our report on November 1,” she says. “Along with that includes artistes from everywhere in the nation, we additionally launched a Mirrors Fellowship in March, centred round analysis and initiatives about difficult fastened concepts about masculinity and chosen 12 fellows who will showcase their work between November 1 and three, at Bangalore Worldwide Centre.”

There might be theatre performances, dance, music, poetry readings, movie screenings, and portray exhibitions, not solely restricted to the town centre, however unfold out everywhere in the metropolis. “We determined to take a few of the performances so far as Anekal and Kolar,” Ekta says. “Artiste Anushi Agrawal goes to carry out Lifafiya, an unsettling, autobiographical narrative in about 50 to 60 places round Bangalore.”

Maraa can also be particularly conducting some performances for the good thing about authorities faculty college students and residents of rural Karnataka.

“There are such a lot of unresolved fears that come up from our childhood. The Kannada play Kappeya Kanasu, which was staged on October 19 at Samvada, delved into these unresolved fears.” Different theatrical performances embody Du Saraswati’s dramatic monologues, recommendation that she imparts whereas transferring from one nook of Bengaluru to a different in her efficiency Love Purana & Pakshi Purana.

One other upcoming efficiency to stay up for is Launda Naach, a Bhojpuri folks theatre kind that’s an amalgamation of drama, dance, music, and dialogues. This 12 months, one of many performers is Raju Kumar Ranjan, a prolific dancer from Bihar who has toured throughout India.

“Masculinity and femininity exist in every considered one of us, though it’s not seen to the attention on account of societal expectations,” says Raju over telephone from Bihar. “We, as a neighborhood, need this to be recognised,” He’ll carry out on November 3 at BIC, and can later be in dialog with writer Brahma Prakash. 

From Maraa’s October Jam
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

Rumi Harish, a trans musician and painter, and one of many mentors for the Mirrors Fellowship, can also be performing and showcasing his work at an exhibition for October Jam. “I began portray in November 2021, to battle melancholy, and have been portray each night since then between 5pm and 11pm, within the method a singer practises riyaz,” says Rumi.

“My voice transitioned from a feminine voice to a male voice, so I might be showcasing that in my efficiency,” he says, speaking about his present scheduled at CIEDS Collective on October 27. He additionally exhibited his work from October 18-22 at Shanthi Highway Studio Gallery, as a part of October Jam.

Dadapeer Jyman, a Kannadiga poet who wrote Rumi’s biography in shut collaboration with him, is a Mirrors fellow this 12 months, and is being mentored by Rumi. He might be reciting poetry in a session facilitated by the Queer Poets Collective, co-founded by him and Rumi, and the Razaai Collective on October 26. “Every poet will recite two of their very own poems in addition to two poems from different famend queer poets,” says Dadapeer.   

“Inventive expressions at all times surmounts that which is finite,” says Ekta. “We maintain altering the quotients of masculinity and femininity in ourselves, and this 12 months, we’re displaying that by our artwork.” 

For particulars on October Jam occasions go browsing to maraa.in or their Instagram deal with @maraacollective

From Maraa’s October Jam
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association