Kerala, Feb 2: Ocha, Kerala’s largest independent music festival, conceptualised and organised by Saina Music Indie and Pacayafog, has successfully wrapped the 3rd edition of the festival. This year the organisers expanded it over 2 days, where on Day 1 they partnered with Spotify as OCHA x Spotify Rap91, bringing together a powerful hip-hop lineup of 20 artists from across India.
The day was headlined by Grammy-nominated artist Rajakumari, with performances by Asal Kolaar, Thirumali, ARJN KDS, Gabri, Wild Wild Women, MHR, SA, Lil Payyan, Dacalty, and many more. Day 2 shifted gears into Techno, headlined by the one and only Siva Prayojan, delivering an unforgettable night of electronic music.
Across both days, OCHA witnessed an overwhelming turnout of nearly 10, 000 attendees, cementing its position as a landmark festival in Kerala’s independent music ecosystem. Following the success of its third edition, OCHA was featured as the 14th best music festival in India by the Rolling Stones , a defining milestone that reflected its growing national impact.
OCHA is built as a platform to represent independent music culture in Kerala. ‘Saina Music Indie’ is the alternative music & Events division of Saina Audio and Video, a name that has been part of the South Indian entertainment industry for over 40 years in movies, music and events , while ‘Pacaya Fog ‘ brings a culture-forward approach to live experiences.
The first edition of OCHA took place on 22nd April 2023 at Le Méridien, marking one of the earliest large-scale hip-hop focused festivals in the state; and the second edition took place at the iconic Bolgatty Palace on May 19th, 2024, expanding both in scale and sound.
Speaking on the success of the 3rd edition, Aashiq Bava, Founder and CEO, Saina Music Indie said,
“ We are deeply overwhelmed by the responses we have received across the 3rd edition, as well as the IP over years. This edition, we expanded to 2 days and bought in different genres of music to the consumers. Now, OCHA is ready to grow even further. The next chapter plans to expand into a three-day festival experience, bringing together Hip-Hop, Techno, and Rock & Pop pushing boundaries while staying rooted in culture.”
Anto Sunny, Founder and CEO, Pacayafog said,
“OCHA is stemmed from the idea of bringing across a platform for music lovers in the South of India. We have worked towards building a line-up that excites the audiences as well as gives an apt platform to the artists. We want to build a strong ecosystem that works in mutual benefits for all involved.”
OCHA continues to exist for the artists, the audience, and the culture that raised it. A space where genres collide, and communities come together. As it grows into a multi-genre festival, the heart remains the same . To celebrate independent music, elevate new voices, and build a future where culture comes first.
