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Indie Meme presents Rhythm of Dammam

FIlm Other Spiritual Black History Month

What’s Happening?

India | Narrative Feature | 2024 | 92 min | Konkani, Kannada (with English subtitles)
 
In Uttara Kannada, India, Jayaram Siddi, a twelve-year-old boy, is believed to be
possessed by the spirit of his late grandfather, Rama Bantu Siddi. Despite seeking
help from local black magicians, Jayaram's condition remains unchanged. He
escapes into a dream world, using 'magical' instruments from his grandfather to
connect with his ancestors. However, he becomes overwhelmed by the agonizing
history of his ancestors' chattel slavery, losing touch with reality. Jayaram drops
out of school, and his family strives to restore his balance by embracing tribal
rituals and Dammam music, both vital to their cultural heritage. The film delves
into Jayaram's struggle with intergenerational trauma, emphasizing the challenges
faced by him and his family in finding healing and stability.

For historical context, the Siddis are an ethnically Southeast African community who have been in India since ~600 CE, coming either as soldiers in Arab armies or as enslaved people brought into the ports.

A live Q&A with writer/director/producer Jayan Cherian will follow the film screening.

India | Narrative Feature | 2024 | 92 min | Konkani, Kannada (with English subtitles)
 
In Uttara Kannada, India, Jayaram Siddi, a twelve-year-old boy, is believed to be
possessed by the spirit of his late grandfather, Rama Bantu Siddi. Despite seeking
help from local black magicians, Jayaram's condition remains unchanged. He
escapes into a dream world, using 'magical' instruments from his grandfather to
connect with his ancestors. However, he becomes overwhelmed by the agonizing
history of his ancestors' chattel slavery, losing touch with reality. Jayaram drops
out of school, and his family strives to restore his balance by embracing tribal
rituals and Dammam music, both vital to their cultural heritage. The film delves
into Jayaram's struggle with intergenerational trauma, emphasizing the challenges
faced by him and his family in finding healing and stability.

For historical context, the Siddis are an ethnically Southeast African community who have been in India since ~600 CE, coming either as soldiers in Arab armies or as enslaved people brought into the ports.

A live Q&A with writer/director/producer Jayan Cherian will follow the film screening.

More about Indie Meme
🎥 Indie Meme is a 501(c)3 non-profit cultural arts organization based in Austin, Texas. We showcase socially relevant independent cinema from South Asia and beyond. This project is in part supported by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin, Economic Development Department.
When & Where
Dec 7, 2025, 2:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: CST
$15.00


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