OCHA Wraps Successful Third Edition, Draws Nearly 10,000 Fans Across Two Days In Kerala

OCHA, Kerala’s largest independent music festival, has successfully concluded the third edition of the event, marking its most ambitious outing yet. Conceptualised and organised by Saina Music Indie and Pacayafog, this year’s festival expanded into a two-day format, reflecting the growing scale and diversity of Kerala’s independent music audience.

Day one saw the festival partner with Spotify for OCHA x Spotify Rap91, bringing together a powerful hip-hop showcase featuring 20 artists from across the country. The night was headlined by Grammy-nominated artist Rajakumari, alongside performances by Asal Kolaar, Thirumali, ARJN KDS, Gabri, Wild Wild Women, MHR, SA, Lil Payyan, Dacalty, among others, offering a wide-ranging snapshot of India’s evolving hip-hop landscape.

Day two shifted sonic gears, diving into electronic music with a techno-led lineup headlined by Siva Prayojan, who delivered a high-energy set that closed the festival on a memorable note.

Across both days, OCHA attracted an overwhelming turnout of nearly 10,000 attendees, further cementing its position as a landmark event within Kerala’s independent music ecosystem. Following the success of its third edition, the festival was also recognised by Rolling Stone as the 14th best music festival in India, a milestone that underlines its growing national relevance.

Built as a platform to represent and nurture independent music culture in Kerala, OCHA is a collaborative effort between Saina Music Indie, the alternative music and events division of Saina Audio and Video,a name associated with South Indian cinema, music and live events for over four decades and Pacayafog, known for its culture-forward approach to live experiences.

The festival has seen steady growth since its inception. The first edition was held on April 22, 2023, at Le Méridien, making it one of the earliest large-scale hip-hop-focused festivals in the state. The second edition followed at the iconic Bolgatty Palace on May 19, 2024, expanding both in scale and sonic ambition.

Reflecting on the success of the latest edition, Aashiq Bava, Founder and CEO of Saina Music Indie, said, “We are deeply overwhelmed by the response we have received for the third edition, as well as the journey of the IP over the years. This time, expanding to two days allowed us to bring different genres of music to the audience. OCHA is now ready to grow even further, with plans to evolve into a three-day festival featuring hip-hop, techno, and rock and pop, while staying rooted in culture.”

Anto Sunny, Founder and CEO of Pacayafog, added, “OCHA was born from the idea of creating a platform for music lovers in South India. We’ve focused on building a line-up that excites audiences while giving artists a meaningful stage. Our aim is to build a strong ecosystem that works for everyone involved.”

As OCHA continues to grow into a multi-genre festival, its core remains unchanged,celebrating independent music, elevating emerging voices, and creating a space where genres collide and communities come together, with culture firmly at the centre.