Showing posts with label Euphoria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Euphoria. Show all posts
Bollywood, music labels have been unfair to me-Palash Sen
2:39 PM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 24, 2025)
Celebrating 27 years in the music industry this year, Palash Sen took to Instagram on Monday to voice his frustration over the film industry’s treatment of independent artistes and the growing dominance of “money” in the entire ecosystem. The lead singer of Euphoria shares, “Despite being loved, we do not have a single Bollywood song to my credit. Music labels have been unfair to us, but we have never compromised on dignity and honesty.”
The 60-year-old rues that success in the industry depends more on “connections” than on talent: “I don’t belong to any group, have never done ji huzoori, and never asked for favours. People have loved us for decades, so why can’t the industry people see this? Why are connections so important when it should be about music?”
Palash adds that it is unfortunate that independent music is so dependent on films and labels for visibility. “Films are using music as a promotional tool. Big labels want half of your revenue share. It’s tough for a band to survive. For young singers today, it’s difficult to work in films. For us, the audience made us survive and showered us with love, but what about youngsters?” he concludes.
There’s something about the Bengali culture that just feels very familiar-Vidya Balan
2:30 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 11, 2024)
Dressed in a red Banarasi sari, Vidya Balan enthusiastically soaked in the Durga Puja festivities at the Chembur Durga Puja Association. The actress, who believes, “Ami mon theke Bengali (I am a Bengali at heart)”, immersed herself into the celebrations – from blowing the conch, playing the dhak to gorging on some irresistible Bengali mishti. She talks to us about her connect with Durga Puja, her Bengaliness and how Satyajit Ray has a role to play in her love for Bengali culture.
‘My first visit to a Durga Pujo pandal was in my early 20s’
While growing up, Vidya was more familiar with Navratri than Durga Pujo. She tells us, “We celebrated Navratri every year in the South Indian way. For us, Navratri meant ‘girl time’. My mom would call her female friends and their girls over for haldi kumkum and we would visit others too. My first visit to a Durga Pujo pandal was only in my early 20s. I’d done a music video, Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gali, with Euphoria and Pradeep Sarkar (director of Parineeta). Since I lived in Chembur, dada’s then assistant Paula, invited me to this pandal because she was going to be singing here.”
‘Fortunate to explore various facets of Durga Maa through my work’
As she revisits this pandal after 20 years, Vidya gets nostalgic. She says, “The image of Durga Maa instantly called out to me. What Durga Maa stands for resonated with me at a very deep level, even before I could articulate it or understand it. I’ve been fortunate to explore various facets of Durga Maa in some of my most popular films.”
‘Bengalis are known for their beautiful women and their beautiful weaves’
The Kahaani actress loves the khichuri along with begun bhaja (brinjal fry) bhog served during pujo. One of the other highlights is, of course, dressing up in gorgeous saris. “I love wearing saris with the red bindi, and hair left loose, and now I also have my own shakha pola (the traditional Bengali white and red bangles). Bengalis are known for their beautiful women and their beautiful weaves. I wear all kinds of saris, but I love Bengali saris, the Dhakai, Baluchari and even the simple Bengal cotton saris. I remember on one of my early trips to Kolkata, I had gone to Punjabi House at Gariahat and bought my mom a sari for Rs. 135, and she still has it.”
‘I see Navratri and Durga Puja as a celebration of the divine feminine’
Apart from the grand celebrations, the festival is also a tribute to the divine feminine, Maa Durga. Vidya shares, “I see Navratri and Durga Pujo as a celebration of the divine feminine and the power of Shakti. I guess my sister and I have imbibed that from my mother. Growing up, I had examples of a lot of strong women in my life, including my mother, aunts, neighbours and sister, who I’ve always said is my hero. They are all delicate, simple women, but women with a lot of strength. So, when you grow up with such role models, you believe that you can do whatever you want to do in life and that femininity is not an appendage, it is powerful.”
‘The first time I visited Kolkata, it felt like this was also home’
Vidya has had a strong association with Bengal and its culture. In one of her most outstanding performances, Kahaani, she was called Vidya Bagchi, and the final moment in the film culminated in a Dashami scene. She made her acting debut with a Bengali film, Bhalo Theko, and then her Bollywood debut with Parineeta, which was set in Bengal.
She says, “There’s something about the Bengali culture that just feels very familiar. You know, I visited Kolkata for the first time only in 2003, but the moment I went there, it felt like this was also home. I’ve also shot a lot of important films in my career, including Bhalo Theko (2003), Parineeta (2005), Kahaani (2012), Kahaani 2 (2016) and Te3n (2016) in Kolkata.”
‘Satyajit Ray has a role to play in my love for Bengali culture’
“I think Satyajit Ray also has a role to play in my love for Bengali culture. I’ve watched a lot of Bengali films, and I know some songs and rhymes (like aabol-taabol) too. I couldn’t have imagined that my film debut would be in the land of Ray. I didn’t get an opportunity to work with him, but I’ve had a lot of people tell me that I look like one of his favourites, Madhabi Mukherjee (laughs)!”
Maaeri 2.0 will be very similar to the original version-Palash Sen
8:11 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 10, 2024)
Dr Palash Sen has a special Mother’s Day present for his mother and the mums of his fans. His two-decade-old cult classic Maaeri is making a comeback. While he took to Insta to share a glimpse of the recording of Maaeri 2.0, the frontman of the band Euphoria exclusively tells us the thought behind revisiting the song.
“Back in the day, I made a huge mistake by giving away the rights to my songs to music labels. It’s been more than 20 years since I recorded the songs from my albums Dhoom and Phir Dhoom, but the audio rights continue to be with the music companies. So, I decided to re-record Maaeri, as now all the rights will belong to Euphoria,” says Dr Sen.
Ask if the new version will undergo any major changes and the musician denies: “Maaeri 2.0 will be very similar to the original version. But since the recording, mixing and mastering techniques have changed, the sound will be a little different. So, lyrically and melodically the song is the same, but the sound will be of today, which is also good because it will appeal to the current generation of music lovers.”
Ask why he decided against making changes to Maaeri, considering so many songs are reworked these days?
“I don’t like songs being altered,” says Dr Sen, adding, “Maaeri continues to be relevant even today and I can never think of changing it. It’s a beautiful song that I wrote for my mother and everyone’s mother. I feel so happy to revisit it. Main rahoon ya na rahoon, yeh gaana zarur rahega.”
Dr Sen adds that the musicians who played in the OG song are part of Maaeri 2.0 too. “I hope people listen to the song and like it,” says the musician, as he goes on to share his vision behind the new track.
“I want young musicians to know the importance of retaining the rights to your music. It’s much easier now, thanks to the streaming platforms. But back then, we had no choice but to go to the music labels to back my music,” he ends.
Euphoria might not be the greatest band, but we have been honest to our craft-Palash Sen
8:38 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 3, 2023)
Dr Palash Sen is looking forward to taking the stage with his band, Euphoria, at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Pune tonight. It’s also a milestone year as the band, credited for cult hits Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gully, Dhoom Pichak and Maeri, turns 25.
Ask what makes them relevant even today and he is quick to say, “Honesty”. “I don’t sound like anybody else. The things I say on stage and the way Euphoria performs make us different. We might not be the greatest band in the world, but we’ve been honest to our craft and that’s what has kept us going.”
Over the last two decades, what kind of changes has he seen in the audience? Dr Sen says, “Unlike the past, the listeners have a lot of options today when it comes to music. So, it’s not easy to grab their attention.”
As he gears up for the 60-minute set, the singer talks about the freedom in performing live: “There are many good singers in our country. But, most are studio singers and their songs are high on production. When they perform live, the songs don’t have the same impact... This is why independent music is so important. An artiste can perform the way they want and sound the same on stage.”
I remember the first time I ever faced the camera... Pradeep Sarkar was the one who called the shots-Neha Dhupia
8:23 AM
Mourning on demise of filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, the actor looks back at her memorable moments with him
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 27, 2023)
“Great guy, big loss!” exclaims actor Neha Dhupia as she tries to come to terms with the death of filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar. The actor reveals Sarkar was the one who pushed her to explore her career in Bollywood, saying the loss has hit her really hard.
“Everybody talks about my work in (Pradeep Sarkar’s directorial) Helicopter Eela (2018). I am here [in this industry] because of him. I remember the first time I ever faced the camera... he was the one who called the shots. I also featured in a music video of (Indian pop rock band) Euphoria called Sha Na Na Na Na. I remember him casting me in it and saying, ‘you are in it to become an actor’,” Dhupia says.
The 42-year-old continues, “He would find humour in everything, and he looks for perfection and everything. I can’t believe he is gone.”
Looking back at her memories attached with “Sarkar dada”, Dhupia shares, “I will always remember him having a laugh in the most adverse situations.”
“If he didn’t audition me and if he didn’t think that I could do it, I don’t know where I would have been or what I would have done. As of now, this loss is far more greater than anything else. I wish I could have had more time with him. I will always love our conversations. His demise has been so sudden. The news is still sinking in as I am talking about it,” adds the Singh Is Kinng (2008) actor.
Sarkar, 67, died at a Mumbai hospital on March 24. Apart from adding his creative touch to ad projects, he is credited for weaving together a multi-hued cinematic world with films such as Parineeta (2005), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), Lafangey Parindey (2010), Mardaani (2014) and Helicopter Eela (2018).
Dhoom Pichak Dhoom became a hit because of Pradeep Sarkar-Palash Sen
8:20 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 27, 2023)
Pop rock band Euphoria’s frontman, Dr Palash Sen, shared a close bond with Pradeep Sarkar. So much so that he sobs intermittently when we speak to him about the late director, who he fondly addressed as dada. Sarkar shot Euphoria’s first music video for their cult song Dhoom Pichak Dhoom in 1998. The duo also did songs like Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gali, Maaeri, Sha Na Na Na and Tum together.
Recalling their first collaboration, the singer says, “Dada heard Dhoom Pichak while we were recording it at a studio in Delhi and he immediately told me that he wanted to shoot the video. I felt honoured. We took a train to Benares (Varanasi; Uttar Pradesh). Our three-day schedule turned into a seven-day one because of the rains and the setting he wanted. The song became so big because of dada. He was the best.”
Sen says Sarkar was his mentor and guide. The singer feels the director, who died on March 24, never got his due in the industry: “He never copied anybody. He should have won awards for the work he did with us. He taught so many people, but he didn’t get enough credit because he never marketed himself.”
Palash Sen used savings to ensure everybody in Euphoria got paid
8:17 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 20, 2021)
The Coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill, and singer Palash Sen admits it’s been particularly tough for performing artistes, in the absence of live shows. In order to adapt, the singer and his band, Euphoria, started doing virtual gigs. However, he does not shy away from sharing that it has been extremely hard, financially. He, in fact, dipped into his own savings to ensure that all his band members get paid.
“These are things you’ve to do for each other as a family. Not only for them, I did a lot of charity in the last year and a half,” he says, asserting that when the going gets tough, people have to stand by each other. “You can choose to have a bigger house, a bigger car or a grand holiday. Or, you can choose to help people. That’s what I did,” he adds.
The band recently came out with their latest album, Sale, for which they went the NFT way. Fans could bid, and the highest bidder got to listen to the album before the release itself. Without live shows, Sen confesses it has been quite hard to sail smooth.
“We reinvented ourselves and started doing virtual concerts. We also brought out music continuously. This year, we worked on this album which has seven songs. It keeps your creative juices flowing. Yes, it’s tough for finances, that’s the biggest hit. We all have to keep faith, things will get better,” says the 55-year-old, asserting that things will be back to “not normal, but new normal”.
Even after all these years, Sen still gets nervous right before a concert or an album release, he confesses. “This album has come out after a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I have nervousness before getting on stage, album toh bahut badi baat hai. I get loose motions before any big thing happens. I had an upset stomach three days before Sale’s release!” Sen quips.
I wish someone like Mukesh Ambani enables India to have a music industry-Palash Sen
9:45 AM
From releasing its first acoustic song, to dabbling in Bengali music, Euphoria has been stepping outside its comfort zone, says frontman Palash Sen
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 11, 2021)
Away from the razzmatazz of commercial music, Euphoria seems to be reinventing itself. The 22-year-old band, fronted by Palash Sen, has dabbled in a wide array of genres in the past few months, crafting its tracks with deftness such that several have emerged to be among its biggest hits, already.
In an interview with mid-day, Sen discusses the band's upcoming releases, including an elaborate 16-track album.
We've seen a spate of new releases from Euphoria recently. Many of the songs have become big hits in a rather short period of time.
They did. A one-minute track that we created called I Like It, earned 850 million views, and that is a first for our band. Another memorable one is a song that we made for, and with indie artistes, because they were facing several problems during the lockdown. Seventy-six indie artistes recorded their portions from their homes or gardens, and created this beautiful piece. We also had many firsts. We created an acoustic version of Kisi ki muskurahoton pe, which was a tribute to those band-mates who play at weddings.
You are also set to release your debut Bengali track this month.
On the 14th, we are bringing out our first Bengali song by Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur. The current generation doesn't know the kind of music that our elders created. We wanted to [put the spotlight on] the sangeet that deserves attention. It is a song on the beauty of mother nature, and how human beings have destroyed it.
We know that indie artistes are among those who have suffered immensely in the pandemic. Could you reflect on how this phase has been?
All of us depend on live gigs. We don't make money from our recorded songs. They may make money for music labels, but not for the artiste. We need an indie industry that takes care of the needs of all artistes.
But, taking to virtual gigs has been gratifying. A live set-up has a lot of distractions. Virtual gigs helped us connect with listeners in their personal space. We've [been able to reach out to] those listeners who don't care about the frills, and listen to us only for our music.
We are also set to bring out an album which will be a collection of songs that we have been creating for six years. It will have tracks based on love, self-belief, and expression, and will include folk, rock, qawwali and acoustic music. There will be something for each kind of listener.
You've stated that you believe India has a film industry, but not a music industry. Why do you think this industry failed to flourish when it was celebrated in the 90s?
In the '90s, there were artistes like Daler Mehendi, Lucky Ali, and Alisha Chinai, who were superstars. For the film industry, nobody apart from an actor should be a superstar. You may not know this, but there was a time when Daler Mehndi was paid a large amount of money to feature in a song with an actor, because he was not saleable, but Mehndi ji was.
The film industry realised they had the resources to dismantle this system, and did. It was easy for them to promote their music because they had budgets, and would recover costs. Think about the indie music being created by these labels — it sounds like film music anyway. India doesn't have an independent music industry. I wish someone like Mukesh Ambani decides to invest in it and enables India to have a music industry. That will bring about change.
I have hardly had any support from the film industry-Palash Sen
8:11 AM
Navneet Vyasan (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 31, 2020)
“I still am an outsider. My brief trysts with films have been nothing more than short lived flings,” says singer Palash Sen of the popular Indian band Euphoria. Sen adds that he does have a few friends in the industry but he’s “always been the doctor who rocks and walks alone...”
The band, known for their tracks such as Ab Na Jaa and Jiya Jaye Na have retained the essence of their independent music despite having worked on a few projects in Bollywood. With the boom of internet, the avenues have widened as well. “Anything that can give us a voice, is a beneficial medium for us. With the power of social media, a musician is no longer at the mercy of a label or a corporation. His/her music is out their for people to consume and decide for themselves. Sadly, I am seeing a change in that as well. The internet is also governed by advertising budgets now. So, toothpastes have more visibility than music videos nowadays,” says Sen.
The artiste who’s recently become a part of the moment #indiaforindie feels it is his moral obligation to help those who have been affected by the pandemic. “A lot of musicians I personally know were suddenly out of work. Everybody has bills to pay,” rues Sen.
He adds that independent music needs support and one should do everything to help it sustain. “While India is seeing almost all the sectors stand on their feet again, live music is going to be the last one. We are still unsure when the situation will be back to normal for us. Life is tough, but tough times bring people together. It is an effort to get the independent music scene officially recognized as a music industry. The idea is to keep music independent of films and film stars. To make sure that each hard working musician gets his/her due,” he concludes.
I would get between Rs 500-Rs 1000 a day and didn’t even know how to spend that much money-Neha Dhupia
8:05 AM
As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2018)
Before I became a model, I used to help backstage during fashion shows in Delhi, assisting the girls who were walking the ramp with their clothes and accessories, running around during photoshoots assembling clothes and more such chores. The money was good — Rs 300 a day was a big deal back then — and I got to work with many successful supermodels like Madhu Sapre, Noyonika Chatterjee, Carol Gracias, John Abraham, Dino Morea and Arjun Rampal among others.
I have also taken on odd jobs at auto expos during summer holidays to make some extra money. I would get between Rs 500-Rs 1000 a day and didn’t even know how to spend that much money.
I never imagined I would end up becoming a model and actress myself because while growing up, I was made to believe that I would become an IAS officer and do something for the country as my dad was in the navy. What life had in store for me and what I was working towards were completely different worlds.
One day, auditions were being held in various colleges for a stage production. It was being directed by Roshan Abbas and choreographed by Shiamak Davar. Cyrus Sahukar,
Gaurav Kapoor, Samir Kochhar and my brother, Hardeep, were among those
who auditioned for it. I went to pick up my best friend and Roshan
spotted me. He asked if I’ve acted before and I exclaimed, “Never!” He
told me I had just landed my first role.
During the theatre production, there was a photographer in the audience who wanted to do a photoshoot with me. He thought my face had the potential. While he was clicking me, he told me his agency was auditioning for a music video. This was in December 1998 and I landed that role too. My first music video, “Sha Na Na Na”, was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Shoojit Sircar was the executive producer and it was for the band Euphoria. I had never travelled by air or been abroad but thanks to that music video I got to work with a popular rock band, be on TV and even got paid. By the time I came back to college, I was famous!
My mum and uncle then saw an advertisement for the auditions for
Miss India. I went for it and was told I would have to lose 10 kgs in
two weeks. I did and ended up winning the crown in 2002 (right, above). And got me
plenty of modelling offers which I was only too happy to grab.
Being an assistant earlier helped when I became a model myself. I was very disciplined. No job was big or small for me as I understood the importance of coordination and collaboration. I have always been a stickler for perfection and the one thing that makes my blood boil is incompetence. I would lock myself up in a room and scream!
At the age of 20, I spent six months in Tokyo promoting my debut
film, an Indo-Japanese project, Nattu Odoru! Ninja Densetsu (right), a major
part of which was shot in Chennai. Living in a city where I had no
connections was interesting. I liked the vibe of the place. My parents
didn’t have a computer then so they would go to a cyber café to interact
with me. It was all vert heart-warming.
Three years later, in 2003, my first Hindi film, Qayamat: City Under Threat (below), produced and directed by Harry Baweja, opened. I was cast opposite Ajay Devgn, and it was a big launch. Fifteen years later, I’m still around, awaiting the release of Helicopter Eela with Kajol and Riddhi Sen. The mother-son story is directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Life has come a full circle.
The sound Euphoria created 16 years ago is all over Bollywood-Palash Sen
7:39 AM
Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2015)
For 16 years, Euphoria has
been one of India's biggest bands. How has the journey been?
Euphoric! We've played all across the globe and our audiences have never given up on us. In a film music-dominated scenario, Euphoria still has a place in people's hearts.
There's news that you're back to acting in films...
My Bengali film Sondhe Namar Aage has just released to critical and commercial acclaim. My next Hindi release is Aisa Yeh Jahaan, written and directed by Biswajeet Bora. It has me in the lead with Ira Dubey. Euphoria has produced six diverse songs for it. The film isn't pseudo-intellectual. It's sensible, sensitive and humorous.
Have you left the infamous IIT Bombay incident behind?
Sadly, infamy is what makes you famous. The same year, Euphoria released a spiritual album in which we sang songs portraying God as 'She'. But nobody called me a feminist for that. A lie started by publicity mongers and blanketed by a great institution, which refused to clarify, left me disillusioned. But the balm was the true love of the millions who stood by me.
Why has Bollywood shied away from using your band?
The sound we created 16 years ago by fusing Indian and 'n' roll elements is all over Bollywood. Most people in the film industry love us. I feel Bollywood will wake up to Euphoria in 2015.
You are a multifaceted persona. What's next?
I am directing our new video, out this month. I don't plan for the future. The only constant in my life is Euphoria.
Euphoric! We've played all across the globe and our audiences have never given up on us. In a film music-dominated scenario, Euphoria still has a place in people's hearts.
There's news that you're back to acting in films...
My Bengali film Sondhe Namar Aage has just released to critical and commercial acclaim. My next Hindi release is Aisa Yeh Jahaan, written and directed by Biswajeet Bora. It has me in the lead with Ira Dubey. Euphoria has produced six diverse songs for it. The film isn't pseudo-intellectual. It's sensible, sensitive and humorous.
Have you left the infamous IIT Bombay incident behind?
Sadly, infamy is what makes you famous. The same year, Euphoria released a spiritual album in which we sang songs portraying God as 'She'. But nobody called me a feminist for that. A lie started by publicity mongers and blanketed by a great institution, which refused to clarify, left me disillusioned. But the balm was the true love of the millions who stood by me.
Why has Bollywood shied away from using your band?
The sound we created 16 years ago by fusing Indian and 'n' roll elements is all over Bollywood. Most people in the film industry love us. I feel Bollywood will wake up to Euphoria in 2015.
You are a multifaceted persona. What's next?
I am directing our new video, out this month. I don't plan for the future. The only constant in my life is Euphoria.
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