Indian Ocean, the rock band behind popular Bollywood soundtracks like Gulaal, Peepli Live and recently Masaan, will perform live at the open theatre of Rajgir International Convention Centre (RICC) on Wednesday to mark Nalanda University's foundation day.

The university came up in 2010 and has organised celebrations on November 24 and 25 to commemorate its foundation of the university. Indian Ocean is widely recognised as a pioneer of the fusion rock genre in India and has performed in many universities.

Popular albums by Indian Ocean include Kandisa, released in March 2000, which acquired cult status and propelled the band into prominence as one of the country's most creative music groups.

Students are excited and are looking forward to the event. A second-year student of School of Historical Studies on condition of anonymity, said: "We are eagerly waiting for Indian Ocean to perform. I guess the entire RICC will reverberate to the music of the rock band."

Entry to the event is through passes and the university has invited various institutions from Bihar to witness the show. Apart from Indian Ocean, students of Nalanda University will also perform at the event. The students have prepared several programmes, including drama and songs, to make the event a grand affair. Smita Polite, director communications (NU) said: "The university administration and students have prepared various programmes which will be performed at the foundation day event."

On Tuesday, students of the varsity will perform various cultural programmes, while the second day is scheduled for Indian Ocean's performance. At present, the university has students from Bhutan, Japan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam in two schools - School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies. Nalanda University is designated as an "Institution of National Importance".

The University admitted its first batch of students in the School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies in 2014. It plans to start The School of Buddhist Studies, Comparative Religion and Philosophy" in 2016. This year, the varsity has admitted 32 students in the School of Ecology & Environment Studies, while 17 students have taken admission in the School of Historical Studies.