For getting me introduced to Indian Ocean, I need to probably thank my job.
It was around 7-8 years back, when I was assigned to look after a visiting customer and I called him on his mobile that the soulful rendering of "Arre Ruk Ja Re Bandeh" pierced my heart like a sweet thorn of seduction.
What was this sound, I wondered? A so obviously Indian chant in the cacophony of "Indi-pop"?
It was a Delhi band "Indian Ocean", I was informed and I promptly ignored it as one freak good song from one of those innumerable tuneless bands on the circuit, which play cover versions and totally unoriginal songs with western context. I could not, however, get "Bandeh" out of my head.
And then, very recently, "Leaving Home" happened. Since then, times have not been the same.
Leaving Home, though a non-fiction film, is actually a passionate "rockumentary" about how this phenomenon called Indian Ocean was born with the confluence of life-stories of its members and crossing of their destinies and grew to finally reach the exalted perch it occupies now.
More than that, however, it is so obviously a tribute by a fan to their "forceful energy" and "their music which obviously shows no sign of dating". Listening to their music acquires a whole new meaning once you have watched this movie. It makes their passion and musical journey your very own to cherish and the satisfaction of working towards perfection your own to bask in.
Indian Ocean is probably the only truly Indian rock band with a compact (five albums) repertoire of original, soulful songs with Indian sounds. More importantly, all the songs have a context firmly placed in the Indian mindspace. All of them with gravitas and all of them very mellifluous.
Apart from hugely popular "Bandeh", there is the ancient prayer - "Kandisa"; the folk song about Narmada River - "Ma Reva"; the song of the morning - Bhor; the song about the montage called India - Des Mera, which is a part of movie Peepli Live and many more.
The band is known by its main members - Sushmit Sen, Rahul Ram, Amit Kilam and Asheem Chakravarty. Sadly, Asheem passed away in 2009 but seems has provided the band with enough of spine and inspiration which, I trust, would last them their lifetimes to continue producing good songs.
Last weekend, Indian Ocean performed in Gurgaon at a select gathering of around 250 fans, which I was fortunate to be a part of. And right from the moment Rahul struck the first chord on his guitar through the frenzied jugalbandi of Amit and Nikhil (a new member, who I do not know is permanent as of now) till the end two hours later, it was a musical treat so typical of the band - high on energy but never overboard, soulful, talking of things that matter and taking all the audience along.
As I was too busy rocking my head and swaying to their beats, I could not record anything but I have gleaned their most famous Bandeh from Youtube here below for you. If you have heard IO before, I am sure you would like it.
If you havent yet, welcome now to the IO Fan Club.
(All pictures from the internet)
