Evolution of Bangla rock music: How the underground cultural movement changed Bengal's musical landscape

Bengalis in the mid-70s had become used to a musical diet of Rabindrasangeet, RD Burman, Manna Dey and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, so when Kolkata woke up to a distorted guitar playing a Bengali song in 1978, they were not yet prepared for the cultural takeover that would happen two decades later. The first Bangla rock song — ‘Shono Shudhijon’ — was part of Ajaana Uronto Bostu ba Aa-Oo-Baw, the second album by Moheener Ghoraguli, India’s first vernacular band. But Bangla rock had to wait another three years for a pure progressive sound when Lakkhichhara shed their traditional rock avatar in the album Bishesh Bishesh Ongsho Birotir Por. So, unless people search for new bands and songs out of their own will, new songs will remain undiscovered.” Naturally, the population that does not have this music thrust in their faces remains largely ignorant of its existence, even though Bangla rock has been evolving and growing in the past decade. So when Gaurab Chattopadhyay says that ‘Bangla rock is very much present even though it may not be mainstream anymore’, one is persuaded to believe him.