Bangla bands rocked by slowdown

The economic meltdown has hit almost every sector of the economy and the Bangla rock band circuit is no exception. These bands, with their catchy combination of rap and rock sung in folksy Bengali idioms, have enjoyed considerable popularity among both domestic and overseas Bengali audiences. But with everyone short of cash, they’re finding themselves increasingly out of tune with the times — financially, if not artistically.

The problems started in 2008 when the slowdown was at its peak and several college fests were called off because corporate sponsorships dried up. “We did not do brisk business during 2008-09. The number of shows went down to 40 or 50 from about 100 per year and there were hardly any calls from abroad. In spite of this, we did not slash our rates,” said Gaurav Chatterjee of Lakhichhara.

The problem is compounded by the fact that audiences from the US are still not inviting the bands. Last year, Lakhichhara had to cancel its US tour owing to new visa regulations and another band called Cactus cancelled its US trip for this Puja because they had confirmed performances from only three or four cities.

Bangla bands became a part of college fests in the 1990s and attracted corporate funding for promotional performances on product launches and related activities. “We do 80 to 100 shows in a year of which about half are for college fests. We charge around '70,000 to '80,000 per show,” said Sidharta of Cactus. The approximate yearly turnover of a Bangla band is around '5 crore.

The journey of the Bangla band started with Gautam Chattopadhyay’s band Mohiner Ghoraguli (Mohin’s horses) in 1960 but it turned out to be an idea ahead way of its time.

The real alternative music evolved in the 1990s when Jibonmukhi songs (songs of life) became popular with their everyday concerns that established a direct connect with the common man. Solo artists such as Nachiketa and Suman Chattopadhay were to be credited for this unique musical experiment.

It was around the late 1990s that bands like Fossil, Cactus and Lakhichhara started a new musical movement by blending rock music with Bengali lyrics and rose to instant popularity among the youth. Bands like Bhoomi and Chandrabindu carried forward the legacy of Bengali folk. Their popularity transcended borders and they were invited to perform at various music festivals and events.

But faster economic growth has not improved the college fest scene significantly. The shortage of funds is forcing colleges to hire individual performers or opt for electronic music, both cheaper options, said Arnab Banerjee of True Colours, an event management firm. “As a result, most band members are stepping into new ventures of music production and compositions for serials and films,” he added.

Not that the bands are losing heart. In the words of Gautam Chattopadhay, “Onek kichu korar ache (There is a lot to be done).”