‘We have our own identities, but together, we are Lakkhichhara’

If you have ever swayed to Bangla rock, chances are Lakkhichhara has been part of your playlist. For over 30 years, the band has been more than music. It is a story of friendship, discipline, and evolution. From college fests to tours abroad, from cassettes to YouTube, they have grown with the city and its audience. As the band steps into its 31st year, Rajiv Mitra, Gaurab Chatterjee, Debaditya Chaudhury, Sanket Bhattacharya and Bodhisattwa Ghosh speak to CT about their origins, influences, and how six personalities, including songwriter Anirban Mazumder who prefers to stay away from the camera, shape their unmistakable soundscape.

How did Lakkhichhara come into being?

Gaboo: Our story begins before our St Xavier’s days. Around 1995, when I was in Class 6, my father, Gautam Chatterjee, a founding member of Moheener Ghoraguli, released an album of edited Bengali alternative songs linked to his ensemble. He had secured a three episode deal with Doordarshan Kolkata to create music videos for non-mainstream songs. Drawn to alternative Bengali music, he wanted to explore songs by artistes he admired.

This led to recording the tracks and producing the cassette Aabaar Bochhor Kuri Pore with a booklet, released through a publishing house owned by a friend of my father at that year’s Boi Mela. This made people more curious about the genre. The idea of Lakkhichhara also emerged around this time. We, as kids were influenced by rock in our own ways, but my father encouraged us to take it seriously and gave us the band name. I began with neighbourhood friends such as Sanket Bhattacharya (Panku). Around 1999, I met Debaditya when I joined St Xavier’s College. He had his own band, Astra, while we performed as Lakkhichhara. The bands eventually merged.

How did Lakkhichhara evolve through the years?

Debaditya: Back in college, our former bandmate Subhajit joined us, followed by Sayak. We gradually came to be tagged as the college band. Our first album released in 2001, and by the second one – featuring Jibon Chaichhe Aro Beshi, the band had grown significantly. Over the years, many prioritised different things in life. Raj and Bodhi joined later.

How do your individual personalities shape the band beyond your musical abilities?Gaboo: If you listen closely, you can hear the shift. Early on, we had many love songs; our latest album has none. Every musician, Raj, Bodhi, Panku and Deba, leaves a mark on the sound. Anirban Mazumder writes all our songs, and his early influence remains evident. Compare Jibon Chaiche Aro Beshi from 2003 to a 2023 track like Padabi. Different, yet unmistakably Lakkhichhara. We create collectively; every element carries everyone’s imprint.

Debaditya: Beyond music, we share a strong personal bond. Discipline and punctuality shape who we are. We take decisions together, and each album reflects the band at that moment. Staying together for 25 to 30 years is no small feat.

Bodhisattwa: It is symbiotic. I adapted to the band’s style when I joined in 2016, and the band shaped me as well. My playing leaves a mark on Lakkhichhara’s identity, and I carry its imprint in my music.

How did Lakkhichhara carve its identity in the early 2000s Bangla rock boom?

Gaboo: We were drawn to rock from childhood. Concerts and shared tastes shaped our sound, but we never tried to copy anyone. We focused on creating our own music. Bisesh Bisesh Ansha Birotir Par was a deliberate progressive rock experiment; otherwise, the sound evolved naturally.

How has the audience evolved?Debaditya: We have seen our music resonate across generations, even within the Bengali diaspora in the US.

Sanket: My son, who is in Class 7 has formed a band with friends. They play Jibon Chaichhe Aro Beshi in competitions and even plan to play Padabi in their next.

How has the medium of sharing music changed?

Gaboo: We have embraced YouTube and social media with a strong team. We aim to balance new releases by revisiting 16 of our old songs in a new arrangement soon.

Debaditya: Some of our older songs never got exposure on cassettes. We want to repackage and re-release them.

Rajiv: When the album’s first released, platforms were limited, so many songs did not reach a wide audience. We believe those tracks still have immense potential.

What was your vision when you started Lakkhichhara?

Debaditya: We could never imagine a life without Lakkhichhara. This isn’t about ambition or vision. The band is a habit for us.

Gaboo: Even today, despite careers and cities pulling us in different directions, the band remains our common thread. Whatever our other roles, we first identify as members of Lakkhichhara. There were moments of uncertainty, but we kept pushing each other forward.

Musical influences

Gaboo: Beatles, Sting, Police, Iron Maiden

Sanket: Def Leppard, Scorpions, Jaco Pastorius

Rajiv: Michael Jackson, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater

Debaditya: Santana, Deep Purple, Scorpions

Bodhisattwa: Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai

‘The band never takes a backseat’

Disagreements are inevitable, but as Gaboo says, “What matters is how you resolve them. Mutual respect is crucial, and it deepens with age.” He calls the current lineup the most stress-free they’ve had, with everyone valuing each other’s perspective. Life decisions revolve around the band, for instance, you may see Deba travelling from Bangalore for rehearsals, and leaving for another meeting, in another city soon after. Panku comes from Delhi – yet the band never takes a backseat. Raj notes, “We respect each other’s time and commitment,” and Debaditya explains, “Our rehearsal starts at 9 am because we respect each other’s schedules.” Having managed the band’s finances from the start, he adds the mutual trust between members is “incredibly rewarding.”

Connecting with the audience

Recalling how he realised that Lakkhichhara has landed with the audience, Gaboo recalls a surreal moment: “In Gariahat, I once was waiting to board an auto and saw a bunch of kids singing Jibon Chaichhe Aro Beshi. That’s when I realised we have made an impact.” Bodhisattwa, who grew up listening to the band, adds, “I had a band called Insomnia. We went to every Lakkhichhara concert while growing up, and when I learnt they were adding a lineup, I reached out to join.” Debaditya credits radio as a major medium that helped audiences connect with not just them, but the Bengali music band scene. He says, “Back then, if 20 songs played, 15 would be that of Bengali bands. It played a major role in turning rock to mainstream.”

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