The Casteless Collective is an Indian

indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...

band based in

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Tamil Nadu, the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and territories of India, Indian state. The largest city ...

, Tamil Nadu. The band was formed in 2017, with support from the Neelam Panpaatu Maiyam started by filmmaker

Pa. Ranjith Pa. Ranjith is an Indian film director and screenwriter who primarily works in Tamil cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 2012 romantic comedy '' Attakathi'', before earning unanimously positive reviews for his second film, the polit ...

and filmmaker and film composer Tenma, founder of the label Madras Records.

Early years and band formation

Tenma, the leader and the music producer of the band was trying to put together a group of indie musicians and artists, the Madras Indie Collective, in 2017 when he received a call from Neelam's

, enquiring if he could train

Gaana Gaana (or Gānā) is a genre of Tamil music, which is sung in the Madras Bashai dialect of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is rap-like "collection of rhythms, beats and sensibilities native to the Chennai people." It evolved over the past two ...

singers and musicians from the Gaana genre. They put out calls for an audition and received about 150 applications. Since the band was embarking on a socio-political journey, the auditions were looking to understand the motivations of the performers, as much as their musical strengths. A blend of Gaana, hip-hop, rock, rap, and folk musicians were among the ~19 singers who formed the initial ensemble. The band's name originates from the usage, ''Jaathi Illadha Tamizhargal'', a phrase coined by 19th century anti caste activist and writer C. Iyothee Thass, who urged

Dalits Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...

across

Tamilnadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language— ...

to register themselves without caste. The name of the band was inspired by a phrase – "jaathi bedha matra Tamilargal" – used by Tamil anti-caste activist and writer C Iyothee Thass. Iyothee Thassa Pandithar (1845-1914) was the first to moot the phrase "Jaathi Bedha Matra Tamizhargal" in the early 20th century by publishing the same in his Tamil Journal ''Tamizhan'' (1907-1914). The band's music is political, and their songs rebel against the inequality of the caste system, and the oppression of women and minorities by the state. The current lineup consists of 19 members including Tenma, leader and music producer, singers Muthu, Bala Chandar,

Isaivani Isaivani (born 1996) is a gaana singer from Chennai, who performs with The Casteless Collective. In 2020 she was recognised for her achievements with one of the BBC 100 Women Awards. Biography Isaivani was born in Royapuram in Chennai in 1996 ...

, Arivu and Chellamuthu, Dharani (Dholak), Sarath (Satti), Gautham (Katta molam), Nandhan Kalaivanan (Parai and Tavil), Manu Krishnan (drums) and Sahib Singh (guitar). As of November 2019, the band had released thirty-five songs. In 2020 Gaana singer,

, who is the only woman in the band was recognised for her role by the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...

. She was included in the BBC's 100 Women because she inspires others because she has sung and performed for a long time in a space that is dominated by men.

Singles

* Jai Bhim Anthem - 2018 * Quota - 2018 * Magizhchi - 2018 * Vada Chennai - 2018 * Thalaiva - 2019 * Dabba Dabba - 2019

Albums

* Magizhchi - 2018

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Casteless Collective, The Musical groups established in 2017 Indian musical groups 2017 establishments in Tamil Nadu