Rocking all the way..

They justified the cause for which Daddy might give up his life
It's been so long, so long a time, still I miss Daddy at night
The ache is long gone but the never keeps staring along
The waters in the seas are high
and all the sand castles have drowned

Well does life get any better
More yesterday than today
How I thought the sun would shine tomorrow
But it rained . . .
(But it rained by Parikrama)

Music delivers many moods, messages, emotions. Music has the power to transform, transcend. For many, it’s the message that a piece of music delivers; it also entertains, stays ancillary.

India, known for its rich music history, has also seen music change its course. From classical to fusion, from folk to rock, the journey has been long, and is still on.

Contemporary Indian rock music, aped, or rather ‘inspired’ from the western rock bands, has found its niche market here in India.

Mesmerizing the young minds with their electrifying music and staying firm from where they evolve, the college campus, is how many start their struggle. Popular Indian rock bands like the Indian Ocean, Parikrama and Jal are a few big fish in the pond.

But is their music accepted, leave apart appreciated? “The youth today want something different and unusual than this Bollywood stuff. These songs have got a real meaning that’s why I like these songs,” Shuchi Jain, a literature student from Delhi University says.

A bunch of music enthusiasts, smitten by the bug of popular rock music, aspire to be ‘different’. They hold their future at stake and prepare themselves not to be bogged down by the uncountable failures and disapprovals that stand in their way.

With hopes wrapped up in a bundle, the untreaded journey begins. They package their music in a way that it reaches the target audience, deriving deeper meaning from each cord that they strike. But many consider rock music marginalized.

Varun Bhatia, an IT graduate from Chennai says, “Rock culture in India is an urban elite English speaking upper caste preserve. Except bands like Indian Ocean, which aren’t pure rock, most of our rock is aped from the North Western quarter of the globe. Most known professional bands are one hit wonders. Rock in India lacks the political character of its origin. Music with a borrowed character doesn’t have mass appeal. The bands have deliberately marginalized their music.”

Shreya Upadhyaya, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, on the other hand says, “They (Indian rock bands) have no understanding, at least not deep understanding, of being a rebel. To just be a rebel without a clue about the world makes shallow rock. That’s what Indian Rock mostly is like, whereas, great rock has come from major political changes. All the real good rock came where it was a political comment like, in response to Vietnam War, Second World War. Most of the contemporary Indian rock bands I am aware of just incorporate the youth culture of drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll.”

Justice for Bhopal, a rock concert supporting the cause of Bhopal gas tragedy victims was organized in the month of December in Chennai. The local rock bands, some just fresh out of school, contributed and stood for the cause. Siddhartha, a base guitarist of a Chennai based band called Star Light Daze says, “We do participate in charity shows and we do stand for political causes. The problem is that are just starting and still have to understand a lot about the music and everything else that is associated with it.” Kashyap, member of the same band adds, “Although we do have the support of our families, still we lack avenues.”

Blame it on the lack of funds, popularity, motivation or support from the family, most of the rock bands in India are at their nascent stage and produce music in a cocoon.

‘But it rained’, a song by an Indian Rock Band, Parikrama, talks about the kidnappings in Kashmir. It is “about the one's left at home...alone” -- this is how they describe this song on their website.

Indian rock bands are coming to the forefront, but they are yet to gain a market for themselves. Most of the finances they procure are too little to sustain music as their profession. Their experimental nature can be a cut above the others but they still have a long, rocky path ahead.