CHENNAI: It’s raw, honest and invites empathetic contemplation — spoken word poetry. Recall your school lessons where you were probably asked to recite Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’. If you think those written words (though officially termed as speech) were powerful, imagine yourself standing among the crowd in 1963 listening to the live words stir emotions.
So why bring this up today? For two reasons. One, it’s World Poetry Day and two, spoken word poetry has got a shiny, new personality in the last few years.
They call it slam poetry — pretty much the same as spoken word poetry but more expressive and sincere in its tone. While spoken poetry has been popular in the US, it’s only in recent times that Chennaiites have been showing interest. City Express speaks to local poets and enthusiasts, who were inspired by Sarah Kay, Denice Frohman and Phil Kaye (international spoken word poets).
They agree that YouTube and other social networking websites are the reason this art form is popular in India and now, our city. Chennai-born Akanksha Bhatia, who recently participated in the Delhi Slam says, “I saw this moving piece on YouTube performed by Sarah and Phil Kaye. It opened up a completely different world for me... And I fell in love with it.
The internet plays a huge part in the making of art. There are so many people who appreciate poetry and social media provides the ideal platform to reach them.”
In turn, slam contests and open mics provide the perfect platform for amateurs and aspirants. Says Gayathri Krishnaraj, who organises Open Sky Slam in the city, “A year ago, there was zero interest or even awareness about spoken word poetry. Now, if there are 30 performers, around 10 are spoken poets and the count increases every month. I find the once-listeners in the audience take the stage after a few sessions too.”
Spoken word poetry is at its peak in the city and the freedom it offers to express is golden. A few years ago, poet Denice Frohman’s Dear Straight People went viral and recently, poet Neil Hilborn’s OCD has been doing rounds.
“Minorities definitely use this medium. Then again, sometimes there is an elite or glazed layer around spoken word poetry that only certain sections of society participate in. However, the poetry movement is trying to make accessible for everybody, which is integral for its growth,” says poet Vasanthi S Pillai.
Spoken word poetry is considered to largely be for the oppressed and the LGBTQ community. A member herself, Ajitha Victor says, “The themes range from unreciprocated love to racism, sexism and classism where they attack discrimination. I believe this is a platform for the oppressed to speak out. I cry, I laugh and I experience with the poet. It is very powerful that way.”
What makes it powerful? Is it just the words or the structural rhythm? Vasanthi explains, “First, I believe there are as many types of spoken word poetry as the number of people who perform. It’s beautiful because it does not have a rigid structure; there is style surely, but it evolves and changes with every individual.” Many opine that When Love Arrives by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye is classic magic!
There are not many popular Indian slam poets, true. Nevertheless, the steady growth of love for words, frequent open mics, slam contests and the internet, of course, can change numbers. Ashwath Nair, who has been in love with words for 15 years, tells us about two Indian spoken poets he loves. “Abhijit Rajan and Sharavana Raghavan.
They need to post their spoken poetry online. Social network is the key especially when websites like Upworthy and UNILAD curate a lot of spoken word pieces.”
India is bringing together a strong community of spoken word poets through Slam contests and Chennai is looking at a strong path ahead too. Lyrical, offbeat or just expressive, the spoken word has charm.
(The writer is a freelance journalist)