Maraa is a media and arts collective, based in Bangalore. Our arts and media practices are located at the intersection of gender, labor, caste and religion. We highlight experiences, imaginations and histories that are systematically suppressed and censored, working in collaboration with communities that have endured violence, discrimination and oppression. Our work involves research, writing and documentation; curation, practice and production.
(www.maraa.in)

October Jam is an independent arts festival that brings together creative practitioners to collectively respond to an idea. It is non-funded, and supported by artists and friends of maraa. Today, there is hardly any space for the arts that is free from the burden of competing  agendas and the market. In the current socio-political climate, many artists struggle to find avenues for their work, where they can exercise their right to freedom of speech and expression.

This October Jam is dedicated to recover, return and rejuvenation.  The year threw up several unexpected surprises, deaths and horrifying news. Individually, collectively and politically. There have always been signs of hope that have not yet killed our conviction and belief in our work. Much like a Leonard Cohen song Anthem, where he says, "There is a crack, a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." 
                                               

                                                       October Jam presents
                                                    Lightning/ಮಿಂಚು / बिजली
                                as a premonition of a heavy, abundant, divine rainfall
                                                             a promise of return

            Films | Music | Print Making | Theatre | Radio | Talks | Poetry | Comedy

We are inviting friends and artists to the jam, who we believe can shake things up. Our friends who turn, dead and alive, who have been working tirelessly, remind us that culture is at the heart of politics. We would like to invoke the spirit of fraternity through this arts festival. As lightning strikes, we invite you to be prepared as well.

FEATURING
 FILM SCREENINGS
A tribute to Navroze Contractor, documentary film-maker
Beginning in the late 60s, Navroze's career as cinematographer spanned over half a century, using all sorts of technology from basic 16 mm and 35 mm film to today's latest digital apparatus, and filming in every imaginable genre of the moving image from experimental films and feature films to documentary work. His feature film work includes Duvidha (Mani Kaul), 22 June, 1897 (Nachiket and Jayoo Patwardhan), Percy (Pervez Merwanji) Devarakadu (Pattabhi Rama Reddy), Pehla Adhyay (Vishnu Mathur) and many more.


CONCERTS
Pasha Bhai & Clan Bokka Phod
Pasha is India’s first rapper in Dakhni. When he did not find a representation of his language in the rap industry he consciously chose to rap in Dakhni, starting a journey into language and identity. Growing up in the largely muslim area of Neelasandra, Pasha’s music reflects the socio-political landscape of his neighbourhood. Clan Bokka Phod (CBP) is a Bengaluru based hip-hop collective composed of rappers, poets, music producers, and performers. 

Gauley Bhai
Gauley Bhai ("the boy from back home/of the neighbourhood" in Nepali, lit. "younger brother from the village") is a Nepali Folk Rock band, based in Bangalore and Kalimpong. In 2017, a group of friends met in a jam room in Bangalore - Siddhant, Veecheet and Anudwatt from Kalimpong (Gorkhaland - nepali-speaking north-east India) & Joe from Calicut (Kerala). They began creating music that reflected their journeys of migration. The music drew from sounds of their childhood, growing up in small towns, and the fractures of life in the city.

Teesta Troupers
In 2022, the Teesta Troupers came to life in a jam room below a garage on the Teesta Highway. 'Trouper' originates from one who is part of a theatre troupe, who are also no strangers to difficult conditions in the line of duty and thus realizes the show must always go on. Teesta Troupers are a collective of musicians, rappers and songwriters. Their music draws from their experience of growing up along the highway, and  reflects the hope, hustle and melancholy of life in the Teesta valley. Featuring Asis aka Sound of the Streets, Anil Aka Mr. Anix, Manoj Aka MJ Humble and Sudeep Aka Dj Sudp.

FINSTA 

In the past couple of years, Jeevica, under her stage name FINSTA, has emerged as one of the foremost voices for the LGBTQ+ community in India's hip-hop scene. She celebrates her identity as a kinnar in her lyrics ("pretty avaz baby mai kinnar" on "PURRRRR") and also brings her firsthand experience in Portland's ballroom community to India (as on her debut EP Jimmy Vogue, released Nov 2021). Sampling disco tracks, riot grrrl rock, house music, clips from Paris Is Burning, and interviews with Indian trans activists consistently demonstrating a singularity of vision.

A Tribute to Gaddar   
featuring
Kotigannahalli Ramaiah, Narayanswamy and Durga (Kolar, Karnataka)
Sambaji Bhagat & Yalgaar (Maharashtra)
Kaladas Deheriya (Chhattisgarh)
Jangama Pada (Bangalore)
Adavi (Bangalore)

STAND UP COMEDY
Blue Material Line Up
Blue comedy is a style of comedy that is off-color, risqué, indecent or profane, including discussion around sex. The color blue is also associated with the Anti-Caste movement signifying the color of the sky, a representation of non-discrimination, that under the sky, everyone is believed to be equal. Blue Material is a stand-up comedy show and collective with an all Dalit lineup. This often takes place as a 90 minute show, including 3 to 4 comedians. The show is grounded within the personal as political; we use humor to highlight the realities of caste and intersecting forms of oppression.

POETRY
Queer Poetry Collective
Queer poets collective is a forum to celebrate & discuss poetry written by Queer individuals in Bangalore, to document queer voices and experiences. Conceptualised by Rumi Harish, Bangalore based queer activist, poet, musician and writer and Dadapeer Jayman, young queer poet, who recently won the Sahitya Academy Award.

TALKS
Against The Tide 
Against the Tide features conversations on artistic practice and  cultural politics. The conversations will trace journeys of artists whose practice can challenge and disrupt dominant political and aesthetic frameworks, in performance, writing, cinema, comedy and visual arts. Featuring conversations with Brahma Prakash (Writer), Rumi Harish (Playwright and Musician), Manjeet Sarkar (Stand up Comic) & others.

THEATRE 

Talki | Payana

A theatre performance that explores the life journeys of senior transgender women,weaving together their desires, dreams, aspirations in the face of continued violence and discrimination.

In return for your contribution, we will offer postcards, festival posters and small music instruments to invoke the smell and sound of rain. 

All events are free so that it can be accessible for everyone. Please do make a contribution, together we can sustain a democratic, fearless space for the arts!

SPREAD THE WORD. ALL ARE WELCOME!