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?