Heritage, what comes to your mind when you come across this word? Probably the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, or some other old structure that serves as a portal to the rich history of our country, which we often look upon with pride and love. You see, the case with India and its culture is that it’s deeper than one can comprehend. This depth of culture has made our country a special attraction for people from all over the world, and it is my belief that at the core of the culture of a place stands its heritage. When it comes to Indian music, a band that stands equal to a heritage monument in Indian music history has achieved 35 years of its making—the beloved Indian Ocean. We at Premise got a special opportunity to witness this monumental evening with them.
The day started rather wet, as Delhi turned into Venice, but instead of cozy boats, it was Cretas that were bugging us with water splashes and horns on our way to The Piano Man. But we made it fine. We had arrived early for our exclusive shoot with the band. Stepping inside the venue for the first time, it felt like a different world, as if we had just entered a vintage English barroom for a high-society gathering. While filming our own work, we got to experience what actually goes into putting on a high-caliber show for a prestigious band like Indian Ocean, as their kind manager Abhijeet took us through everything from the stage setups and soundchecks to a full tour of the venue, giving us an exclusive look, which will be out soon.
As the evening went by, working with the management team and feasting our eyes on the stage being set in front of us, and the venue coming alive with lights and sounds, it was finally time for us to meet the legends. While we were excited to the highest degree, the butterflies were also fluttering at their loudest. But it’s Indian Ocean—that’s justified in itself. As we headed to the green room, our minds were blank, with no clue what to expect or how things would turn out. We opened the door, and there were Himanshu Joshi and Nikhil Rao, sipping on tea and cracking jokes. They greeted us with handshakes, offered us some tea, and the butterflies instantly disappeared as they made us feel comfortable in just a few seconds of meeting them. From there on, things were in full swing.
As we progressed with interviews of each member, the green room kept filling up, and the energy kept rising as the laughter increased among the members and the team, who kept teasing each other one way or another, munching on snacks, and having a good time like a good old morning walk dads' club. The energy in the room was infectious enough to put a smile on everyone who entered, and it stayed with us throughout the day.
The sky went dark, the lights went bright, and The Piano Man came alive with chatter as it was time for Indian Ocean to raise the tide of music onto their listeners in attendance. The band members made the walk from the green room to the stage and were met with claps from those who were eagerly waiting for them to blow the keys off The Piano Man that evening, and that’s exactly what they did with their thunderous performance, track after track, making sure no eye was distracted as they captivated each individual with their passionate performance and giving off an infectious energy that tied the whole room as one. Each track had a thunderous pour of claps and whistles at the end of it, like a cloud had burst from above. But this was not just a concert or your normal weekly gig; to put it simply, we saw much more. We saw what music meant to Indian Ocean. Amit Kilam on drums, hitting the hi-hats and drums with as much grace as knitting a sweater, all while having a smile on his face that burst through when he got the note right, was amused in the simple joy of just playing. Himanshu Joshi had the time of his life clapping, singing, and making the audience clap along with as much energy as a toddler. Tuheen Chakravorty on the table and percussion immersed himself in his act while sharing a few occasional giggles with the crew between the sets—moments to cherish. Nikhil Rao on the electric guitar hit the chords with the utmost passion, as if it were meditative for him, but yet his hands held fury through which he set the place on fire. Rahul Ram, who is the most “chulbula” of the group, treated his bass like a dance partner as he danced with her with his eyes closed, enjoying every second of his act.
At moments, the evening felt like a big wedding. The passion of music had turned the listeners into a big family who clapped, praised, and showered love on their beloved musicians in sync. Moreover, with a break in between the sets, the band members went around greeting their close friends, family, and fans in attendance, sharing a few words with everyone scattered across the room and the outdoor area. This really made the experience wholesome and extra joyous. While we had thought of the show as a normal concert the day before, it was more than that. It was an evening of shared passion, love, and friendship. It was the monumental occasion of 35 years of Indian Ocean, which to us feels like it will go on for 35 more, because these boys aren’t stopping anytime soon.
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