They rode and survived all sorts of waves. The music they created was good enough to deafen the sound of a violent sea. Indian Ocean, the baap of all Indian rock bands are now on a new high with a series of releases. A rocumentary titled Leaving Home , based on the 19-year-old band is releasing in a couple of days, Pipli Life , an Aamir Khan production for which they scored the music will release soon, added to all this excitement is the launch of their next album. “The album is an internet release. It is free for all to download. This is slightly against the trend but going against the routine kept the Indian Ocean alive,” says Amit.
The band's unadulterated focus in their music and their constant efforts in creating newer music helped them survive the time and get international acclaim. Directed by Jaideep Varma, Leaving Home , will be India's first music film. The nationwide release is scheduled for April 2 and the 115-minute movie revolves around the life and music of Indian Ocean. “The movie is a portrait of Indian Ocean's timeless music. It is India's greatest music band by a mile. As a friend I had an idea of what they had gone through to operate from their vacuum and fiercely maintain their integrity in these crazily commercial times. The desire to tell this story, the need to showcase their music and the fortunate circumstances I was in, in 2006, to make a small budget entertainment project, no questions asked, led to this,” says director of Mixed Doubles , Jaideep who will also be producing the movie.
When asked if the band members lived up to his expectation as actors, he said, “ LH is a non fiction film, so there is no other decision to be made. It has to be the people as they are. However, though people, including the band members are calling it a documentary, the directors doesn't approve of it, “I'm a little wary because of the image people have of documentaries in our country. They are seen as intellectual, somewhat dry exercises, not meant for entertainment but for knowledge. LH is meant first and foremost for entertainment and then whatever else it provides. Also, the basic narrative style of the film is very vibrant and has a chronological flow, much like the telling of an engaging story does.”
The members who also lost one of their team members said during the shoot there were times when they missed their partner a lot, “We are proud to be a part of a band on whom a movie is being made, it is a privilege. But there were moments when we missed Asheem a lot,” says Rahul.
Now that their struggles and their hardwork are filmed does the band feel they can take it easy? “Not at moment. There is no time for us to relax. The kind of music we play calls for our constant attention,” says band member Susmit.
