Float with Boatcast

Zahir Mirza

Drift into deep conversations about culture, heritage, and the shared human experience. Guided by the philosophy that "the river doesn't take a form," our episodes are unscripted and unhurried. We invite guests to share complex narratives that celebrate diverse traditions, hidden histories, and organic community building. Here, history is continuous, culture is shared, and every perspective is a current in the collective story. Float with us.

Episodes

  1. Hidden History of Kerala's Music: Jewish, Portuguese, and Boat Songs with Reshmi Sateesh | Float with Boatcast

    Jan 29

    Hidden History of Kerala's Music: Jewish, Portuguese, and Boat Songs with Reshmi Sateesh | Float with Boatcast

    Reshmi Sateesh is a multi-dimensional artist known for her melodious singing and work across film and music.- She is a trained Carnatic musician from a young age.- She studied film at the Satyajit Ray Film Institute and has worked as an audiographer, playback singer, associate director, and actress (including a "female dominant role" in the film 22 Female Kottayam).- While studying social work in the tribal area of Wayanad, she began collecting and performing various folk songs.- She founded her band, ReSa, to express her musical identity, focusing on folk and traditional music, including forms like Theyyam.This episode of "Boatcast" is an exploration of the multicultural history and music of Kochi- Focus: The episode highlights the musical exchange that occurred through ancient trade routes to Muziris, including the lasting influence of Portuguese music and Jewish songs.Featured Performances: Reshmi performs and discusses:- Ancient Jewish Malayalam Songs: These are songs originally translated from Hebrew to Malayalam and focus on personal, divine, and historical themes.Kappa Patt (Boat Songs): An ancient form of Mapila song from coastal areas. These songs typically compare the emotions and journey of human life to that of a boat, and are performed by the men who work on the water.- Portuguese Music: She performs a segment of "Jingly None," a celebratory, carnival-like song whose tune is widely used in Kerala and Sri Lanka, and notes the introduction of instruments like the violin and guitar through Portuguese influence.

    26 min

About

Drift into deep conversations about culture, heritage, and the shared human experience. Guided by the philosophy that "the river doesn't take a form," our episodes are unscripted and unhurried. We invite guests to share complex narratives that celebrate diverse traditions, hidden histories, and organic community building. Here, history is continuous, culture is shared, and every perspective is a current in the collective story. Float with us.