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Mehfuz - Euphoria

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Mehfuz - Euphoria
Anoop Chugh@dig_down_deep
Aug 23, 2006 12:38 PM, 4438 Views
AN exclusive interview with Palash

Last year I had this opportunity to interview Dr Palash of Euphoria fame at IIM-L anuual festival. Here’s how I analysed him and his band -

IT’S ONE of the few words in the medical lexicon that ends with a simple

`ria’ as opposed to hundreds that, though pronounced with a `ria’ ending,

in fact, end in complicated spellings. It’s one of the few words in medical

terminology that has a positive connotation as opposed to others that mean

sickness and death. And it’s one of the few names in the music industry

that have survived and left a mark as opposed to many others that have

tried and failed.

Yes, it’s Euphoria, the Hindi rock band, and the person behind the success

story of this band is none but Dr Palash. His counterparts usually spend

most of their time in hospitals or private clinics but such is his love

for music that his maximum time is devoted to music. Palash is our very own

Lucknow dude, better known as lead vocalist of the band `Euphoria’.

Palash, who shot into limelight after his hit number `Dhoom’ with band

Euphoria, loves Uttar Pradesh more than Mumbai, just for its history and

monumental landscapes. It was no coincidence that he shot his first video

in the narrow lanes of Varanasi.

Born in Lucknow, Palash had the MBBS genes in his blood -- his father

(now retired) had served the then KGMC for more than three decades. He completed

his MBBS from University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and is now

happily settled in the posh GK-II in the national capital with his wife

and 8-year-old son Kinshuk.

Palash was in Lucknow for the annual fest in the prestigious IIM-L --

Manfest 2005. This was his sixth visit to the city after he shifted his

base to Delhi. During an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, when asked what

he liked most about Lucknow, Palash proudly replied: "It’s the home

town and I am crazy about its simplicity."

Replying to another question on his professional U-turn -- from medicine

to music -- he grinned: "It was a beautiful mishap."

However, Palash added that he had not left his previous profession and

still had a clinic at GK-II. He proudly recalls the names of his celebrity

patients who include Tabu, Meghna Gulzar, Shaan and others.

So, does he want his son to be a musician or a doctor? "He is free

to choose his own way after he becomes a doctor, " Palash said with a

laugh.

About his musical journey, Palash has this to say: "What started out

as a dream is finally becoming a reality. And as the quest begins to find the

end of the rainbow, a destination emerges and the search continues; it

might be a dead-end but it is, after all a search, for home. The journey

from Dhoom has taken us not outwards but inwards, into ourselves, into

our culture, into our soul where melody is god and the heart is the king."

Palash is proud of his band and his music just because they and their music

are not part of the trend. He adds: "We are not part of the trend,

instead we are trend-setters. We came up with our definition of ’Hindrock’ in the

Euphoria dictionary and it is simple." A unique amalgamation of Indian

and Western musical influences to provide pleasing sound to ears.

So, what does he feel about the latest remixes, and will he go the same

way as others? "I don’t understand why they need some nude chicks to sell

their music.

Look at us, we haven’t exposed even an inch of a girl’s body in

our videos, so I guess its big enough a proof that people need good music not

nude chicks, " he adds. When do we get to hear his new album? "My next album will hit the

market in July-August, " he smirks. This will be his fifth album after tasting

success from `Dhoom’, `Phir Dhoom’, `Mantra’ and ’Gully’. Although one song that

is really close to his heart is ’Jeet lo dil’ which he sang in collaboration

with Pakistani pop band ’Strings’ which was also part of the third day’s

celebrations of the ’Manfest 2005’.

He is also composing a song on tsunami tragedy in which various pop bands

from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan will perform with him.

What is the thing that keeps him busy and excited now-a-days? Other than

stage shows, one thing that is keeping him on toes is the visit of

international rock star ’Sting’. "Elvis Presely is my role model and

Sting is like god to me. I will attend his concert in Delhi. I met him when I

performed at Beal Street Festival in 2001 where he was the guest, "

says Palash.

In Beal Street Festival he got the chance to perform with many

international stars, including Bryan Adams. He proudly says that ’those

were the best days of my life".

Palash sums up his music carrier as 6 years... 5 guys (plus 3 now)... 3

albums... 2 singles... 11 videos and still dreaming!! Dreaming of a perfect

world... no war, no poverty, no disease, no tears... just music and smiles!

Palash signs off by singing a few of his favourite lines from Sting song

(Brand new day):

How many of you people out there

Been hurt in some kind of love

affair?

And how many times did you

swear?

That you’d never love again?

How many lonely, sleepless nights?

How many lies, how many fights?

And why would you want to

Put yourself through all of that

again?

(3)
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