Rhyming for a cause

Mumbai-based filmmaker Rohan Sabharwal and poet Rachana Iyer’s spoken word poetry platform, Rhyme with Reason, is looking to spread socially relevant messages

“Dear mental health ally, so we finally meet. You may be a father, a mother, a lover or a friend. There’s a lot I have to clear and this might offend,” Rohan Sabharwal begins his spoken word poem. However, unlike Mumbai’s spoken word artists, he is not speaking at a poetry slam. He is, in fact, speaking to a camera for a Youtube short film, which will feature him and co-founder of Rhyme with Reason, Rachana Iyer. The duo has taken their creative energies and started this new initiative with the aim to improve the spoken word scene in the city and also to spread socially relevant messages through their poems. Their first video, titled Dear Mental Health Ally, which released on Youtube on August 12, speaks about the struggles faced by those who have mental disorders as they fight societal stigma.

The duo has also started experimenting with the medium itself by using background music and props. In their video, Dear Mental Health Ally, they can be seen wearing gas masks and piano music plays in the background. “We are also going to be collaborating with a beat boxer, a couple of guitarists and EDM musicians for our upcoming videos,” says Rohan, adding that poetry-lovers can expect a video upload each week. “We want people to realise that poetry can also have mass appeal. By using a conversational style and these effects, we hope to involve more and more people in the genre,” says Rachana. The duo is also looking forward to collaborating with other poets from across the world. “We have already had a poet from the US contact us. We will be collaborating via video exchanges and online coordination,” says Rachana. “Although our poems are about social issues, they are also taken from very personal experiences. So, really, the more perspectives we get the better,” she adds.

Rohan is quick to clarify that, though Rhyme with Reason will have a live event after they have posted five of their videos, the duo will not organise an open-mic. “The first time I saw an open mic poetry event in Mumbai, I was really disappointed. I remember liking only Ray (Rachana) and one other performer. Everyone else fumbled with their lines or read from chits of paper, which is not how spoken word is supposed to be performed,” he recalls. “When you have a theatre performance, no one is allowed to forget their lines; why should this be any different ” Following this principle, the duo has taken to rehearsing for long hours before shooting videos, so that they do not have to read from prompters. “We will also arrange for formal rehearsals with all the participants before any live poetry shows we host,” adds Rachana.