Rock On,Again

The Alms for Shanti sound was distinctly Indian with strains of the tabla and the sitar merging with the electric guitar. They played gigs across the US and clearly the going wasn’t always good but then competing with the likes of the Black Eyed Peas and Counting Crows can’t be easy. “For a musician,there’s no place like New York City,” says Benegal. “They’re very experimental in the music scene and I don’t regret my decade there at all.”

Now,however,Benegal is finding his feet,once again,in Mumbai. “I’ve written a film script which some people are interested in producing,” he says. (His website hints at how much Benegal loathes Bollywood.) He’s quick to add,“I’m teaming up with a former Indus Creed member,Mahesh Tinaikar,for the music.”

Indus Creed,in its time,played mostly covers of The Who and Led Zeppelin. Benegal performed alongside Jethro Tull on his 2006 tour in Mumbai and says he is thrilled to see the changes in India’s music scene,since he left for NYC. “Most importantly,original compositions in English by Indian bands are selling,” he says. Maybe there’s room for his two separate bands—an acoustic and an electric rock project— that he’s developing with Tinaikar. Their new album has a mix of unreleased songs of Alms for Shanti and Indus Creed,written long ago. Gandhi,who has stayed back in the US,is still writing songs for Alms for Shanti which they’ll perform together,while Benegal prepares for their fresh innings here. “It’s a little weird hearing the old songs now,but may be our time has finally arrived,” Benegal signs off. We’re listening.