We’re not Rakhi Sawant: Parikrama

But what they are is practical, say members of band Parikrama. Well, that and there’s also the fact that they’re India’s highest paid band with the most number of shows every year.
Parikrama is one band that pops to mind when talk turns to Indian rock and for good reason too; these guys know exactly what they want and don’t in the least give two hoots what their critics say.The outspoken heavy metal band is in the city to rock the living daylights out of Chennaiites at a day-long rock-a-thon, something they say they wish they could do more often, and they share fond memories of their association with the city.
“We are kicked about being here; we’ve wanted to come here for the longest time. We go to every other possible city, in every nook and corner of the country, but Chennai never figures in our list! Unlike other metros, it doesn’t have even Earth shows,” rues founding member Subir Malik. But his reminiscences of the city are pleasant, dating back to 1992 when the band played for the first time in the city at the MCC culturals. “It was a special show for us because that was around the time we had just formed the band. I still have the 25 rupee ticket we bought for the show. We stayed at the hostel with a big bunch of friends.”
While things have changed radically for the band since then, there are some things that never change. Things that never should change. Passion, for instance. Ask Subir how the band has managed to keep its act together over such a long span and he shrugs simply, “When we came together, we made a pact that Parikrama would be for keeps. Even today, when we get together for a practice session, the nineteen years melt away — we just become a bunch of guys who’ve come together to make music; music that we’d listen to in our own cars.”
Parikrama’s forte is undoubtedly creating a heavy metal sound with a seamless blend of Indian classical instruments. Ask Subir why the genre of Indian rock isn’t exactly flourishing in the country and he points out, “I think it is subject to geography. Mumbai is where you get the best of jazz, for blues, head out to Shillong...Chennai has the best of individual musicians.”
What’s interesting about the band, that has opened for big-wig metal Gods like Iron Maiden, is that despite all the criticism about bands playing covers, they maintain their stance. Which is, “We’ll do what we enjoy!” Subir laughs, “People think it’s below a (good) band’s dignity to play covers. But if we want to play Maiden or AC/DC, who happen to be among our favourites, who’s to stop us? We have original compositions that are as popular as any rock song and there’s no reason for us to be insecure.”
But while the band’s proud nonchalance is evident, what is equally evident is their belief in different causes. The band has frontlined several concerts dedicated to various causes — right from animal welfare to AIDS awareness. Ask them what their latest pet cause is and Subir quips pertly, “There are many. But we’re not Rakhi Sawant to go babbling about them. That’s not how we do it. We let our music do the talking.”
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