Drop in the ocean of charity

The Delhi-based rock band Indian Ocean needs no introduction on the musicscape. One of the precursors of fusion rock genre in India, the group has enthralled and influenced many an entire generation since the past two-and-a-half decades since the 90s. Seamlessly mixing folk songs, jazz, traditional Indian ragas, ethnic, as well as western instruments like dotara, drums and guitars, the band judiciously evokes a tapestry of well-balanced diverse flavours. Its Indo-rock fusion base is peppered with rhythms that synthesise shlokas, Sufism, environmentalism, mythology and revolution.

After the untimely demise of ace percussionist-vocalist Asheem Chakravarty in 2009 and the departure of guitar-virtuoso Susmit Sen in 2013 from the band’s original line-up, the current crop retains founder-member Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam as its leading faces. Maverick bassist-vocalist Ram is now a legendary figure and an age-defying livewire the moment he takes the stage. While Kilam with his on-the-spot improvisations on the drums as well as vocals is a class apart. He is also a treat to watch with his unruly curly locks sweeping the air. Himanshu Joshi and Tuheen Chakraborty were later inducted into the band.

The experimental outfit which has submerged many a myriad music lovers within its ceaseless bounds of musical explorations has also made a name for itself by expanding its role and reach to charitable causes. And in alignment with this clause, the band is at present touring 12 Indian cities as part of Seagram’s 100 Pipers music CDs’ ‘Play for a cause’ event.

It was a Saturday night when three talented Indian bands — Parvaaz with vocalist Khalid at its helm, Soul’d Out with boy-brigade Abhay Sharma, Bhanu Mendiratta, Chetan Awasthi, Sajal Sharma and Abhijit Sood in the team and of course the cream of the lot, Indian Ocean, which was saved for the last, joined hands for a noble initiative and jammed altogether at Kolkata’s happening watering hole Shisha Bar Stock Exchange. The young blood rolled in tandem with the experienced and accomplished heads. As hard drinks were poured down profusely and white smoky balls emitted from the hookah bar, the music blared and thumped with sounds and beats, taking the vim and excitement to a crescendo. The crowd went berserk when the Sufi rock Bande was belted out from Black Friday by Indian Ocean.

Backed by a premium liquor brand and a well-established NGO called Robinhood Army, the endeavour is dedicated towards sponsoring meals for the underprivileged. And to make this promising opportunity successful, the music contingents are travelling across Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai Lucknow, Guwahati, Indore, Nagpur, Pune and Hyderabad. The 12th city is yet to be decided.

“It is rooted in our desi culture to extend support and solidarity to those who need it,” says Kilam. “The fact that these corporate conglomerates are actually doing something tangible for the less fortunates has what essentially prompted us to be a part of it,” he adds, lauding the efforts.

One may argue if celebrity appearances and voices really make any difference to a significant issue. When probed from this angle, Rahul Ram with his trademark red band and salt-n-pepper long mane and beard says: “Well, that is something which people need to tell us. You know, well-known persons standing shoulder to shoulder with a cause, does help attracting attention to it and history has witnessed several similar incidents to vouch for.”

“See rallying behind a progressive thought or a foundation and further strengthening it, is nothing new. Even upholding a burning problem or any deadlock is important. But beyond all that what is necessary is to bring the concerning issues to public notice and build up an opinion poll around it. Awareness is the first step towards solution I guess.”

Cynics may counter question this as an image-enhancing exercise as musicians in the avatar of cultural ambassadors do represent and propagate a certain ideology through their vehicle of performing arts. “Well, our mode of expression is music, as simple as that. And we can’t possibly toot our own horns by blabbering out our philanthropic contributions side by side on our musical way. It’s only for people to discover that for themselves,” Ram sets the record straight.

What about musicians sharing a political dais with leaders and ministers, especially during election campaigns and even singing songs for party manifestos “Indian Ocean as a band is apolitical. Period. Fact is, as a group, we don’t subscribe to any one political ideal but as individuals we have different political leanings, which is so obviously natural. That’s how it works best for all. I’d rather suggest to follow the ‘to each his own’ principle to sustain peace in the house,” says Kilam.

Talking to them about the current-day indie music scenario in India, Ram openly admits “it is the best time to be an indie musician and am optimistic about things getting only better by the day. Luckily, the corporate world has opened its arms to the non-Bollywood segment and that’s indeed great news for all of us. In other words, it is an exceedingly satisfying situation with a crowd of bands and music fests riding on a rising scale.”

Indian Ocean recently made waves with the hit song Tu Kisi Rail Si from the critically-acclaimed movie, Masaan. Although Bollywood bashing continues for monopolising the music industry, yet many bands and indie soloists get featured within its bounds from time to time. Even Indian Ocean did their bit in cinematic music. When enquired if this is a good trend and does it often hamper their individual liberties and sensibilities as in film music, one has to follow the dictates of the script and given sequences, the rockers then explain their viewpoint. “We love freedom for all and welcome freedom of expression in any given field of arts. Now regarding Bollywood, what’s the harm in getting into its mould for any independent group or a soloist musician I mean it’s great to get your music out there. Frankly speaking, we have no qualms working over a brief into mainstream Bollywood. See, we make a certain kind of music and people come to us for that quality piece and it works just fine for us,” they say in unison.

Having delivered their goods with love and passion for Masaan, the composers reveal their wavelengths matching perfectly with writer Varun Grover and director Neeraj Ghaywan and that they were on the same page from the word go. “Now it’s for listeners to determine how well they have received the song. We leave the verdict to their discretion,” they chorus.

For future course, they declare to have scored music for a “small Marathi film” and that “it should be releasing soon”. With an album next on the cards, Kilam says it will hit the stands this year. “Live or studio, it remains to be seen,” he quips. As far as musical collaborations are concerned, the band is happy to inform: “We have had the pleasure of collaborating with vocalist Pandit Vikku Vinayakram and saxophonist George Brooks. We will be releasing the singles soon.” Constantly playing and travelling, Indian Ocean is all set to ripple its waves in Africa’s Egypt during the summer months of April and May which they surely expect to be “a lot of fun”.

It goes without saying that the internet and social media boom have been a big boon to the musicians for releasing singles and album songs online and creating their own Youtube music videos to woo listeners instantly, instead of struggling restlessly with the company labels and brands for their patronage and sponsorship. The Indian Oceaners, too, have walked the same route and been one of the pioneers to show the way to their successors. “Well, what can we say on this front! It’s the best thing that could have happened to the world of music and with it comes innovation, which we believe would keep things changing for a better tomorrow and that is fantastic,” they sign off on a positive note.