Have you ever followed a song, a tune or a melody? Even though you cannot fully understand it, you feel a strong connection with it, as though you know it from a different life, a parallel reality.

Purbi was like that for Noorie, follow her search from the labour colony in Bangalore to the long train journey on Sanghamitra Express and all the way to Ara in Bihar. She feels at home even though she is meeting with Raju, Piyush, Sunaina and Sipahi, who take her through the different spirits and moods of songs from the Land of migration.

It is these songsthat keep people who have migrated to far away lands connected to their loved ones. The pain of separation is hard to express, but in their songs they are able to carry that pain out, so that people can find refuge and a sense of solace. Noorie finds Nirgun, a mood that sets the tone of her inner voice. Here, songs are passed on like life lessons,the memory for which is etched in the minds of the receiver forever.

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Raju Ranjan is a theatre artist and a jangayak. He comes from Farhada, and has performed all over India. He is aligned with several anti-caste and socio-cultural movements across India. Raju’s research practice considers diverse folk practices of Bihar through lives and struggles of folk artists and public performers.

Sunil Ram, better known as Sunaina, is a renowned senior naach artist from Chanakewatiya. They stopped singing and dancing due to old age, but continue as a percussionist. Raju urged Sunaina to return from his retirement as a singer and dancer-performer because only with their presence, we could explore the practice of Nirgun.

Sipahi is a naach performer from Kanaela. He performs at weddings and baraaths, festivals, political rallies, and in traditional folk programmes. Off season, he migrates to Talegaon to work as a rose picker.

Piyush is an artist and researcher whose work tries to locate how caste plays out in everyday life and deeper histories. Part of his work is creating collective productions of anti-caste discourse. He runs a research and production studio called zeropowercut.

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Concept: Ekta & Angarika, maraa a media & arts collective

Voice of Noorie: Ekta & Angarika

Recordings: Gaurav Krishna & Ishan Gupta

Sound design: Gaurav Krishna & Advik

Design Concept: Ekta

Design & Illustrations: Thara Thomas

Video Podcast: Malavika Mishra

Production Support: Team Maraa

With support from Goethe Institut Max Mueller Bhavan