Shoot At Sound

Head thrown back,long hair,sideburns,dark shades and a bass guitar in his hands — this particular photograph of Chintan Kalra,former member of the cult band,Parikrama,pretty much sums up Kalra as the rockstar that he is. This black-and-white picture,clicked in June 2011 at Ashoka Amphitheatre during Clonefest,has frozen that moment. Shot by 33-year-old Delhi-based photographer,Asif Khan,this is one of the many pictures up on display at The Living Room (TLR) as part of “Access All Areas”,a live music photography exhibition. On for about a month,a fair amount of indie music lovers turned up on the exhibition’s first day,Friday.

Five photographers — Shiv Ahuja,Rohit Lal,Rahul Lal and Kate’,apart from Khan — have come together to give a glimpse of the Indian indie music industry in the last couple of years. “TLR approached me to do a solo show but I suggested that we bring in more photographers. I approached these guys and we all met one day and discussed the theme and sub-theme. We were sure it had to be black and white and that it had to be about indie music,” says Ahuja.

With strong opinions about the nascent indie scene in the country,the group has shown very distinct work. While Ahuja focuses on a more personal and backstage story of the musicians,Rohit is more about close-ups. The pictures,put up downstairs as well as upstairs at TLR,are an extremely interesting choice. A particular series of photos by Kate’ is all about “feet” — be it Raghu Dixit’s feet up in the air during a performance or Scribe member Vishvesh’s legs in action during a gig. From Menwhopause and Gandu Circus performing at Escape,to Dixit resting backstage,to even Imogen Heap tying shoe-laces and Parvathy Baul’s crazy twirls playing a tune of their own during a gig — the show is a small yet significant effort to represent indie music.

“Concert photography is still not considered a legit art form; it is emerging as a sub-culture though,” says Khan about the dearth of such exhibitions.