A cardboard model of B R Ambedkar, paintings of Che Guevara, busts, books of Periyar, Sadhguru, songs on politics, Tamil identity, freedom – noted filmmaker Pa Ranjith’s arts, music and dance festival called ‘Vaanam’ opened to an overwhelming response in Chennai on 31 December 2018.
A three-day festival, ‘Vaanam’ – organised by Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural Centre – aims to create free spaces and enable difficult conversations on class, caste, gender, rape, violence and abuse by showcasing forms of art that often does not get mainstream attention.
Pa Ranjith will also launch the Casteless Collective’s debut music album, titled 'Magizhchi'.
The festival has so many art forms that are bold and have strong political and societal messages.
“We want to create a space for freedom of music, arts, dance and speech where we can talk freely about any issue and find people with similar ideas. I wanted to start such a discussion on important vices in the society,” said filmmaker Pa Ranjith.
“Under the blue sky we are all the same. No one is lower or higher and we are all the same under the blue sky which encompasses us all,” said actor Lijeesh.
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