Amit Saigal's contribution to Indian rock
by Sutirtha Sanyal

        New Delhi: Amit Saigal's name is synonymous with Indian rock. He launched Rock Street Journal (RSJ), which was born out of necessity to provide a common platform to rockers in India. Indian rock then was mostly about doing cover versions at college fests. Nobody was interested in 'rock music born in India'. But the rock scene in India has come a long way since then. Today, not only are Indian bands doing their own acts, they are even performing abroad and earning rave reviews across Europe and the US. One big thing that has helped in this is that recording songs have become very affordable. "The last few years have seen recording becoming very affordable. Earlier studio recording was prohibitive, but now it can be done even at one's home," says Saigal. But there is still a problem. Though not at a nascent stage, Indian rock is still evolving. Proper marketing and publicity is required to create awareness about indigenous rock bands, and it is here that television channels can play their part, he says. True, in a country dominated by Bollywood music and international rock, reggae and pop acts, Indian rock seems to get lost. Even Pakistani bands get prominence on music channels like MTV, Channel V and VH1. And giving exposure to Indian bands is something the channels can do. The need, says Saigal, "is to create a forum to take the music industry to the artists and vice versa". "There are certain missing links," but as he says, "slowly, but surely, things are taking shape". "Radio has been a partner for the Great Indian Rock (GIR) Show for some years. This year also we have a radio partner. TV channels have shown interest, and hopefully next year, we will be able to broadcast the show, maybe even live," says Saigal.

          Needless to say, RSJ and the GIR have provided a common ground to Indian rock bands to showcase their music and talent. Many of the bands have released their albums on the Internet and it is not uncommon to find swaying and headbanging fans sing along with the acts. The show also facilitates the sale of recordings of the participating bands. In its 11th edition this year, GIR will feature 11 bands including Viking/Black metal band 'Enslaved' from Norway. This not only adds publicity and facilitates the interaction and exchange of the Indian bands with the visiting foreign bands, but also provides them the opportunity to perform abroad. "Last year, 'Bombay Black' performed in Los Angeles, 'Orange Street' in Sweden, Norway and Estonia. Then 'No Idea' performed in Norway. When 'We' (from Norway) came here last year for GIR, it was broadcast as a 30-minute documentary all over Scandinavia. 'Kerrang' magazine from the UK did a special story on last year's gig. So that's always a good publicity. People abroad are getting to know that there is something like Indian rock also," says Saigal. Says Grutle Kjellson, bassist and lead vocalist of 'Enslaved', which is on its first visit to Asia: "We never knew anything about Indian metal or rock. We heard an Indian band for the first time after coming to India for the rock show (GIR), and it was pretty good. I am very excited about performing at the GIR". But, then a CD compilation of the acts at GIR has never been released. Wouldn't that help in creating awareness and generating interest about the Indian rock bands? Pat comes the reply. "This year we will release a DVD collection of GIR a month after the festival. It will hit the markets soon," adds Saigal.
- February 24, 2007

Ravi Shankar influences Norwegian music
by Sutirtha Sanyal

        New Delhi: Indian music has good response in Norway. Hindi film music is gaining popularity with the Norwegian youth; even Bollywood movies with Nordic subtitles are drawing mainstream Norwegian crowd to the theatres. The success of Norwegian born Negar Khan in Bollywood is always making headlines back in Oslo. But, that is not just the only influence Indian music wields in Scandinavia. As Ivar Bjoersen, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist of Norwegian metal band, Enslaved who have come here to perform at the 11th Great Indian Rock (GIR) show said: "Ravi Shankar's Sitar has influenced our music to a certain extent." "Though it wouldn't be right to say that has had a direct influence on our music, but yes. He influenced Jimmy Page and several others, and Jimmy Page influenced me, so in a way yes, Shankar influenced our music," said Ivar. He admits to having never met Ravi Shankar, but feels it would be a great opportunity if he could take time out of his busy schedule to pay him a visit. Enslaved is on its first visit to Asia, and bassist and lead vocalist Grutle Kjellson admits to not having any idea about the rock or metal scene in India, but feels excited about performing at the GIR. The feedback, they received from two Norwegian bands 'We' and 'Elcaco', he says, made them eager to perform in India. So what about cutting an album here or collaborating with Indian musicians? Certainly in the pipelines, after all music is all about cutting boundaries. As Ivar says: "Norway is a very small country with a limited cultural heritage, and we have not made an impact on the global or the cultural scene as India. But, we are learning about Indian music. Awareness about Indian music, classical, Bollywood and rock, is increasing in Norway." "Obviously we would also like to cut an album here. Our company is holding talks with a label here and hopefully it will materialise. Initially we will launch two of our latest albums, and then depending on that, our previous albums," he said.

           So far Enslaved have launched 10 albums, six in Norwegian and four in English, and plan to test the waters here with their two latest English albums 'Isa' and 'Runn'. Since its start in 1991, Enslaved has seen many shuffles and only three of the original band members exist, including Ivar and Grutle. But, as they say, they themselves have evolved since their first album 'Hordanes Land' in 1993. Winner of two Norwegian Grammy awards, the band received rave reviews during their European tour in February and March 2005. It was at this time, in absentia, when they were awarded both the Norwegian Grammy and the independent Alarm Price for their second last album ISA. Their music is dark, with a refined mix of psychedelic doom and raw energy that makes them one of the best metal bands in the world, and they are here to rock Delhi on Sunday, February 25 at the GIR. But, as Grutle says, they would love to come back to India again. But, till then, Delhiites will have to sway and headbang to their beats at the GIR.
- February 23, 2007

Punjabi play has houses full in London
by Mike Lockey

        London: An Indian play has recently been playing to full houses. Ik Chadar Maili Si - "A Sheet Soiled and Torn" in English - has been premiered in the UK thanks to an India-born director who has brought the culture of her native Punjab to British audiences. The play has been adapted from the one written by the award- winning writer, the late Rajinder Singh Bedi, in the '60s and is set in a rural Punjabi village. It won the Sahitya Academy Award in 1965 and was later made into a celebrated Bollywood film starring Hema Malini and Raj Kapoor in the '90s. It tells the story of Rano who is pressurised by the village elders to marry her brother-in-law when her first husband is murdered. This situation is, of course, common in rural India even now, and the play explores the dilemmas and anguish of Rano as she is forced into the most difficult of choices for the sake of her family. The actor playing the part of the brother-in-law, Raj Verma, said that: "The play explores sexuality, society and relationships with honesty and intensity, engaging audiences emotionally and intellectually". He also told the Asian Times newspaper that: "The play is based on a classic Urdu novella which is a landmark in Punjabi literature. Rajinder Singh Bedi is an icon in India and what is interesting is that the old-fashioned traditions shown in this play are not judged - the audience is left to make up their own mind". The play was actually performed in the Punjabi language when it was staged in London last month and the director, Sneh Lata Verma, explained that this decision meant that, not only was there an added air of truth to the piece, but that also: "The older generation of Punjabis in Britain would thereby relate to the themes in the play and the younger generation would appreciate learning more about their ancestry". As she pointed out to the Asian Times: "It's important to demonstrate that Punjabi culture is about more than bhangra music". Never a truer word.
- February 9, 2007

Amaan, Ayaan Ali Khan launch album Mystic Dunes
by Suanshu Khurana

        New Delhi: The new thematic album, Mystic Dunes, of Amaan Ali khan and Ayaan Ali Khan was launched yesterday by Soha Ali Khan, daughter of Sharmila Tagore, among much glitterati and hoopla. Shveta Nanda and Ridhima Kapoor were also seen having a good time at the event. In this new album Amaan and Ayaan have tried to bring alive the various elements of the desert all over the world. Preceding the launch the duo played four tracks from their yet to be released album. From 'Solitude of caravan' travelling through the starkness of the desert to 'Sandstorm Fury' that defines the frenzy of the desert in a perfect fashion, it was playful combats all the way. Talking about compromising on the purity of the Indian classical music, Amaan told ANI, "Music has to adapt itself with the times to appeal more to the youth. There is nothing called purity of music. Music is what comes from the soul. To make it all pervasive, fusion is important. It cannot be closeted if it ahs to reach the youth" 'Melody of ivory bangles' inspired by the very traditional Rajasthani 'Maand music' looked very earthy while the final 'Desert Dance' had a lot of Arab touch to it. Listening to their music was also quite an experience as they surpassed the test of artistic creativity incredibly, with a striking stage presence.

           Talking about the album Ayaan told ANI "This album has been somewhat more challenging. At times it becomes very difficult to creatively satisfy one's own personal self, if told to be under some guidelines." The concert's delight also laid in the fact that every instrument occupied a distinct role on stage. As the affair between men and music reached its summit, each instrumentalist brought out his best skill to present the composition in a handsome way. The superbly gifted Tabla player Sandip Das and Stephen on Piano also did a great job in keeping the concert alive. So did Asif Ali Khan on sarangi and Rakesh Prasanna on flute. Commenting on the album Soha Ali Khan said, "These guys have made classical music more accessible for a generation that fails to appreciate their heritage, while safeguarding the tradition otherwise in jeopardy." The effortless blend of tradition with the trendy looked very different with some sparkling fireworks as at the end of it although Sarod seemed like an electric guitar with a power of its own.
- February 3, 2007

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