The Score Magazine January 2019 issue | Page 22

BAND OF THE MONTH What was the idea behind your band? The band was crated initially to score the background for a theatre production called Odichodichu- a bus drama. It was staged on a bus re-engineered into a performing space.It was an attempt made never before in Indian theatre, to stage a play in a bus with the bus as a character. It was a novel attempt to take art to the people and there were a lot of social realities portrayed in the script and the song. The production could only carry on for 5 performances but the songs became popular and the band, Oorali progressed along performing. Then the band changed it texture many a time since 2013 and right now, after 5 years and more than 500 odd performances across India Oorali we are a 7 member ensemble including musicians actors and visual artistes. You are known to make music based on social satires. How has your music been received so far and what were the challenges you initially faced to get your music across to people? As any journey it was not an easy beginning. But we never intended to be a band as I said earlier. We just kept going along experimenting with how we sounded, how we looked on stage, added songs along the way and were inspired by the relevance and acceptance of our music. Life is a never ending struggle and art is our way of coping with it and belonging in this universe. There are issues we come across 20 The Score Magazine highonscore.com every day as human beings and our songs reflect them. It’s a machine that has stories to tell and it has to be seen to be believed. Making music on social issues, were you criticised or been under any sort of pressure initially? Tell us about your upcoming projects There has always been criticism and will be.But there are so many fans out there who are energized and inspired by the material we churn out. We always take the feedback accept what we feel is true, work on it and keep on practicing.There is always pressure whether we are doing the right thing.But we stick to our research and work with the facts to make things better. We are working with Kochin Muziris Biennale 2018 and continuing the post flood journey that we began after the devastating floods that hit Kerala this year. WE began by creating community art across experience in affected areas and now we are extending with the support of Bienalle to the coastal Kerala and the fisher folk who did a major chunk of the rescue operations and saved innumerable lives. Tell us about your bus performances Your message to upcoming artists in your space. Oorali regularly performs in the bus and always travels in it. It is called express. Express was a bus before, but not anymore. It doesn’t ferry people across destinations now. It now doesn’t keep the regular time but abides by Oorali time. Ooralis had found express just in time, just before it was about to be sent for scrapping after 12 years of running as a public transport vehicle. The truth will set you free. Re engineered into a performing space by the effort of multiple artists, now it’s a fully functional performing and exhibition space. An art bus that can take experiences to people has seen many ups and downs, been with us through thick and thin and is an integral part of all Oorali undertakings. RAPID FIRE 1. Best performance till date - The last one. 2. Artist you would love to collaborate with - Many, Radiohead is now in my mind. 3. If not music, what would you guys be doing? - Art, definitely. 4. Describe your work in one word - Share