Dalit Subbaiah: A Tribute to the Voice of the Marginalized

Celebrating the Legacy of Dalit Subbaiah

Tamil singer, lyricist, and poet Dalit Subbaiah once proclaimed, "My voice represents thousands of Dalits." This powerful statement encapsulates his essence.

The documentary Dalit Subbaiah, directed by Gridaran MKP, serves as a heartfelt homage to the artist who passed away in 2022, highlighting his dedication to social issues and the impact of protest music.

In August, Dalit Subbaiah received the prestigious award at the International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala. Gridaran, an editor in the Tamil film sector, explores Subbaiah's journey through interviews with his family and friends. The archival footage showcases the vibrancy of his performances, lyrics, and vision for a fair society.

Subbaiah's character—warm, humorous, courageous, and subtly magnetic—shines through in his performances. Gridaran remarked, "His political presence was remarkable, evident in his speeches and the songs he composed and performed."

The film delves into Subbaiah's diverse concerns, including caste discrimination, dowry, class disparities, sanitation workers' rights, communalism, the Sri Lankan civil conflict, and majoritarianism. A documentary participant noted, "He chronicled Tamil Nadu's history through his songs."

In a poignant moment, schoolgirls pass by as Subbaiah and his troupe perform on a street corner. His reputation in Tamil Nadu was immense, particularly for his song Vella Mudiyadhavar Ambedkar (Undefeatable Ambedkar), which resonated with activist groups and political entities like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

However, many outside progressive circles were unaware of Subbaiah's contributions, including his authorship of Vella Mudiyadhavar Ambedkar, Gridaran noted.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Gridaran shared, "I too must have walked past him during his street performances, oblivious to his identity and the empowering messages in his songs." He realized while creating the documentary that Subbaiah's music spoke to his own struggles.

The documentary is part of a ten-film series on protest music in Tamil Nadu, produced by Pa Ranjith’s Neelam Films and Yaazhi Films. This series highlights ten musicians honored at the Margazhiyil Makkalisa festival in 2021, which celebrates the cultural heritage of historically marginalized and working-class communities.

When Subbaiah was celebrated at Margazhiyil Makkalisa, Gridaran was busy editing the experimental Tamil film Kuthiraivaal, co-directed by Manoj Leonel Jahson and Shyam Sunder. Unfortunately, by the time he began working on the documentary, Subbaiah had already passed away.

Gridaran recounted, "Though I never met him, I attended his funeral. Initially, there were only about 10-15 attendees, but the crowd grew to hundreds as the procession continued." Among those mourning was rapper Arivu.

Using animation, Dalit Subbaiah illustrates the formative years of its subject. Born Karuppan Pichai in 1952, a teacher renamed him Subbaiah to eliminate the stigma associated with his original name, which means alms in Tamil.

After caste riots, Subbaiah's family relocated from their village in Madurai to Pondicherry. He committed himself to advocating for the voiceless, collaborating with Marxists, progressive Christians, socialists, and Dalits.

His leftist beliefs influenced him to name his sons Spartacus, after the gladiator who led a slave uprising, and Gorky, after the renowned Russian author. In the film, Spartacus Subbaiah recounts a humorous incident where his father had to explain the significance of his elder son's unique name.

Heartfelt testimonials from his family reveal their struggles, including financial hardships and the small joys of watching movies or buying books. It is revealed that Subbaiah was a fan of Sean Connery's James Bond films.

Interviews with members of Subbaiah’s Voice of Liberation troupe, including a bus conductor, highlight their working-class backgrounds, camaraderie, and deep respect for him. Notable singers like Chinnaponnu and Kidakkuzhi Mariyammal, who performed Kandaa Vara Sollunga in Mari Selvaraj’s Karnan (2021), have collaborated with Subbaiah, Gridaran mentioned.

Gridaran noted, "For many, music is synonymous with film or folk tunes, but Subbaiah’s revolutionary songs were rooted in the people's struggles."

Gridaran discovered that Subbaiah's powerful lyrics, which emerged from a historically marginalized community, were not always credited to him. One of his original songs was adapted for the mainstream film Vettaikaran, featuring Tamil star Vijay, but only a few lines were used, with the majority of the lyrics discarded, as noted by a troupe member.

Ultimately, Subbaiah's enduring message about protest music resonates throughout the film, making him a vibrant presence, as if he were still alive.

He poignantly stated during a performance, "When the issue related to the song fades, the song fades too."

Gridaran reflected, "While popular film songs easily reach audiences, the songs that truly represent the people often go unheard. Throughout the documentary's creation, I was deeply inspired by Subbaiah's messages regarding caste, his critique of societal structures, and his call for revolutionary change. Had he been alive, the film would have taken a different shape, but his absence motivated us to put in extra effort into this documentary."