Parikrama Comes A Full Circle

soundplunge_test charts out the evolution of Parikrama, from two decades ago as a band of talented, eager musicians just out of college to a band which forms a great chunk of India’s music legacy, their journey, obstacles, inspirations and things they remain partial to.

Current Line- Up: Nitin Malik – Lead Vocals, Sonam Sherpa – Lead Guitars, Subir Malik – Organist, Synthesizers, Saurabh Chaudhary- Guitar, Gaurav Balani – Bass Guitar, Srijan Mahajan – Drums

They play original rock-and-roll, declare that their music is free for all and support animal rights. How can you ever get peeved with Parikrama? One of the first rock and roll legends to enter the music circuit, Parikrama became one of the pioneers of fusion music as it exists in its contemporary form in India. 22 years of solid support, when it comes to Parikrama, there are no heartbreaks, misunderstandings and their band equation remains a rare phenomenon in the rock music industry all over the world, one of the things the band members should clap each other on the back for. Years on, now they command massive crowds wherever they perform, over a thousand concerts lasting an average of hundred and twenty six minutes. From their first gig at St Agnes School, they have come a long way, commanding a huge amount of respect in the music fraternity.

The young gangly band of 1991, fresh out of college had already established a name for themselves by the early 1990s. Most of them belonged to Kirori Mal’s famed music society MUSOC, apart from Nitin who was from Hindu College. When they decided to be a band, it was a foray into the unknown, in times beyond the internet age, where there were hardly any bands performing in India. Their name, in fact was pioneering in its concept – a Sanskrit word which means travelling around the circumference of a sacred place, they were one of the first bands who came up with a name that did not ape Western rock bands.

Parikrama: Our music is free and for everyone

Parikrama went on to develop a stature for themselves, performing all around the world, and developing a very interactive, approachable style that their fans still love them for.  (To this date, they haven’t come up with an album, preferring to distribute their music for free on their website). Their music would incorporate Indian sounds, and instruments like the mridangam, table and flute is used extensively in their music. Their first single “Till I’m No One Again” made its way to the first edition of The Great Indian Rock compilation by Amit Sehgal back in 1995. Most of their recordings since then have been live recordings. Parikrama doesn’t engage in studio recordings. It was among thirteen other songs chosen for the album out of hundreds of bands that had sent their scratches for the event. Parikrama made its entry into India’s rock scene by then and came out with another single “Open Skies”. Counting Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors as their inspirations, they often indulge themselves and play covers from them.

Each of the six musicians remained faithful to their vision, while managing other commitments, since they had established it as a ground rule that they would never indulge themselves, but put the money they got from the band into the band itself, one of the major reasons for their growth. Going from this ethic of responsibility, Parikrama also organised and performed for the first AIDS awareness concert in India. It happened at Patel Chest near the university campus, and was called Ban’ne’d AIDS.  Parikrama often go on stage wearing PETA T-shirts to promote animal rights awareness, as the band till date remains attached to the cause.

Currently, Subir Malik manages the band, while Nitin Malik has his own studio, and Sonam Sherpa – the lead guitarist, runs a music school. Parikrama for them remains a source of pure creative satisfaction, a space to create the music that they want, without the constrictions of money. And this has resulted in the growth of the band more than anything else. In fact, Parikrama remains among one of the best managed bands in India. Apart from prominent concerts all over the country, backing from major music companies as well as major venues endorsing music in the country, a tour of the metropolitan cities with Saif Ali Khan, they have started touring regularly at an international level over the  recent years. Their music has also evolved and come into a niche of its own. Things have looked good till now, and all the band members would agree, there’s more coming to reckon with, Parikrama is here to stay.