Review by Vinoo
Leaving Home : The Life and Music of Indian Ocean (2008)
Language : English / Hindi
Director : Jaideep Varma
This one will go right alongside ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ in my collection. Hats off to Jaideep Varma for a wonderful tribute to, arguably, the best band in the country. The passion with which the group makes their music is nothing short of infectious. The film begins wonderfully with various sounds, street calls, vehicle honks, hawkers singing, all of which could be music if seen the way it should be, culminating in the house where Indian Ocean has been jamming for years making the wonderful music that they are. The inspiration to the music that Indian Ocean makes has been varied, be it the ‘Ma Rewa’ from the people of Narmada, or ‘Kaun’ inspired by Kashmir, or ‘Kandisa’ pulled out from Aramaic, or the wonderful music for ‘Black Friday’ which is definitely one of those films where the soundtrack will be talked of much after the film’s lifetime. There have been moments when I have caught myself singing aloud ‘Ma Rewa’, ‘Kandisa’, ‘Bandeh’, ‘Tun tun tanaa na’ and lots more. It is music you just loved, music you couldn’t ignore, music you couldn’t slot. A lot of soul in the music they create. And what a wonderful tribute Piyush Mishra gives the band with his ‘Badtameezi’ comment which I will avoid translating cos it can’t be. Like the band members themselves confess “None of us are among the best of musicians. In fact, we are all in the middle rung and just about mediocre. But when we come together we are a different animal, we create magic”.