Kolkatas booming music scene

Monday, July 24, 2006

Kolkata (UNI): Kolkatans are considered famous for their ''misty'', 'battik kurtas', revolutionary thinking and Rabindra Sangeet, but there is also one more passion and that is Bangla music bands. Of late the Bangla 'bands' are becoming quite popular not only in this ''city of joy'' but also in the entire nation. The number 'Na jaane koi' from the movie "Gangster" not only brought immense popularity to the movie but also gained a lot of fame for the Bangla rock band ''Bhoomi'' whose composition ''Bhebe dekhecho ki'' was adapted by the movie's music directors.

Kolkata and music bands share a close bonding. The evolution of rock bands dates back to the seventies, which marked the emergence of a famous band "Mohiner Ghoraguli", meaning 'horses of Mohin', that had a great impact on the youth. Then, there was a sudden boom in the number of bands in the early eighties, with many colleges initiating their own bands who wrote and composed their own songs which were basicaly an amalgamation of rock'n'roll, jazz and Rabindra Sangeet. Chandrabindoo, formed in 1989, is presently the most popular band after Bhoomi. With an average of 20 shows a month, it performs in all the metropolitan cities of the country apart from Kolkata. Anindya, a member of the band, is of the opinion that the last three years have witnessed a phenomenal growth of the bands in Kolkata. He also said that today's young mass has a lot of potential and has access to the latest technologies, so performing music nowadays is not a difficult task, however sustaining the cut-throat competition is a big challenge.

Bangla rock band Bhoomi had recently performed at the United Nations headquarters in New York, soon after their song 'Bhebe Dekhecho ki' hit the music charts. Different bands have their own unique selling propositions, "Bhoomi" is basically a folk oriented band whereas Cactus concentrates on Bangla rock. Yet another band The Orient Express sells jazz and jazz-rock music, whose album 'The night is young' did amazing business. Another band Parashpathor had also been able to carve a niche for themselves.

Kolkatans have always been able to relate themselves with their songs which are loaded with emotions, sarcasm and pains of heartbreak. Kolkata has numerous pubs, discotheques and theatres who allow these bands to perform, and this is yet another major reason in the spurt of huge number of bands. The bands have not only created a niche for themselves in the international music market but has also been able to generate employment for numerous youths all by themselves. This certainly provides a food for thought to several other talented yet unemployed ones.