Lakkhichhara members strike a pose. Picture by Rashbehari Das

Lakkhichhara has completed a decade of making music. Gaurab, Debaditya, Bua, Subhajit and Sanket time travel with t2...

In the beginning…

Gaurab: It all started through Gautam Chattopadhyay, my father. Sanket and I are para friends. We used to make music together. In 1995, Abar Bochhor Kuri Pore by Mohiner Ghoraguli came out which had a song by Lakkhichhara. That was the birth of the band. In 1997, we did another song in another Mohiner Ghoraguli album. Apart from that we used to back up my father. We started playing independently from 1999. It was basically friends jamming together for fun and then getting serious.

The name…

Gaurab: My dad gave it. If you are called Lakkhichhara, you have the licence to do whatever you want!

The Mohiner Ghoraguli influence…

Gaurab: That’s where the work started, and that is where our responsibility rests. We are the direct offshoot.

Challenges…

Debaditya: When we started playing professionally, we were all in college (St Xavier’s). We had a dream, but we never thought it would be our bread and butter. We were a five-piece band. Then Rishabh and Subhajit came. Bua joined on the guitar. We have released our fourth album and are working on the fifth. We have also done plenty of shows — not only in Calcutta but also in the districts.

When we started, there wasn’t much of an acceptance for this genre. Then Bangla bands became mainstream. Our biggest breakthrough was Jibon chaichhe aro beshi in 2004.

Your latest album…

Gaurab: It is called Bishesh Bishesh Angsho Birotir Por. We recorded it after a break of three years. It is like a journey — from the first song till the last. It is progressive rock.

Fun memories…

Gaurab: We did a Sikkim trip for Lakkhichhara family and friends.

Debaditya: Once during a concert where Shakti Thakur was performing Jonmodine ki aar debo, I had pushed Nilanjan, our then guitarist, on to the stage!

Memorable concerts…

Debaditya: Xavostav, when we were in the second year. The field, the crowd, the building, the stage… incredible!

Gaurab: The Bangladesh concert.

Popular numbers…

Debaditya: Jibon chaichhe aro beshi...

Gaurab: Ke ki bole, Aami.

Debaditya: We are also planning to shoot a video for Aami and Ei shomoi.

Campus connect…

Debaditya: Our age, our lyrics. Our stage act is natural.

Strengths…

Gaurab: Bonding.

Subhajit: Musically also we are very tight.

Weakness…

Debaditya: We are emotional.

Next project…

Debaditya: Some of the Megh Mallar songs have been compiled in a new album. There are two new songs, Glycerine and Kemon achho shohor, and six old songs. We are also planning tours.

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