The Man, his Music & Mantra

Chandigarh, February 12:
The band has increased its volume. From six, they are a line-up of eleven now, including three girls. The state is still exalted, but the sounds have turned mellower, maturer. And Dr Palash ‘Polly’ Sen has successfully graduated to a complete maniac — at least when it comes to his first love, something he’s been associated with for eight years and something that has been in his family for four generations now (his son Kinshuk has joined in too) — music. ‘‘Precisely the reason I don’t do films. You get stuck in the long process. I look for instant gratification, and music gives me that,’’ he shoots, slightly restless with the concert time running out and rest of the members on stage for the sound check at the PEC Fest. ‘‘Moreover, I never got an offer as good as Filhaal again,’’ says this cerebral singer who coined the term ‘Hindrock’ for ‘‘journalists who kept pestering him with what is your style of music.’’ ‘‘It’s rock, and it’s in Hindi. So there it goes — Hindrock,’’ Polly grins, all set to release their next album, Mehfuz this month.

Evidently excited about it, Palash, at the same time is fiercely possessive about Indian music and considers it a huge compliment to play for an Indian audience. ‘‘The music explosion has seen Pak bands rushing in like crazy, and the sad thing is that there is no reciprocal effect to it. These guys are eating up our identity, and we are watching like fools. I feel this entire hospitality business is a farce. Instead we should be promoting our own talent,’’ Polly makes all the sense adding how the Indian music industry is still stuck in a ‘‘retro format.’’ ‘‘Music remains the Number One mode of entertainment, a publicity vehicle for every film. The only way we can boost this industry is with corporate backing.’’ The doc’s got the right diagnosis! ‘‘I think it’s the coolest to be a doctor,’’ Palash sticks to identity number one, and to a no playback too. ‘‘How can you sing to somebody else’s words and music. For an expression to be personal, you need to write and compose on your own. We have made our place and I never want to lose that,’’ the big boss of the band proclaims. ‘‘I guess someone has to be in the lead and take control,’’ winks the ‘Sultan of SMS’. ‘‘Nah, I am just a simple person and I maintain that.’’ Which is why our guy avoids preaching. ‘‘We have a message in every song, and total quality control too. If you like it, follow it.’’ We already are doc.