Palash Sen: Judge for Sa Re Ga Ma

Palash Sen: Judge for Sa Re Ga Ma

YOU HAVE “Sa Re Ga Ma”, the famed talent hunt programme on Zee TV that satisfies those who look for a classical shade in voices. Hence we have the likes of Shreya Ghoshal and Jaspinder Narula added to our singing treasure. Now we have another talent hunt for another reason, courtesy Channel (V). They are out on a `pop’ talent hunt. They are geared up for a nationwide search for Coke (V) pop stars.The search is set to cover seven Indian cities.

New Delhi’s Subroto Park area was hit hard this past week as thousands of girls and guys gathered in an attempt to become a bigger version of the `Sunny and Cher’ prototype, be a part of The Coke Channel V Popstars-2.

The magnitude of the enthusiasm of the aspirants could only be measured by their undying spirit, which saw them get up at four to get ready and rush to the venue.

Some also came down from Nainital, Ambala and other places. The weather was hot and humid, yet the atmosphere at the venue was as cool and happening as one could hear each one of them practicing their song over and over again. The Air Force Auditorium reverberated with the `Piyaa Tu Ab To Aaja’ a hot favourite number with the budding singers .The strings of the guitar, enchanting voices and dollops of zest, Delhites really set the place rocking.

These aspiring pop stars will be required to register again for the second round. The 24 candidates from across India will go to Mumbai for the semi finals; out of 24, the best 10 will be selected. The band will contain four finalists – two boys and two girls. A tough competition, and tough to judge too! And guess who is the judge – it is Palash Sen, of “Euphoria” fame.

Is it a must for participants to have a classical music background?

“Not necessarily. They must be aware of the nuances of good singing. I have seen many people who can sing very well without any training. I can cite my example also. I am a doctor by profession, but singing was my passion. I never took any formal training in music but my `Euphoria’ band made great waves.”

Though there is no age bar in this talent hunt but the preference is for those above 18. Recently Palash rejected two young, extremely talented women because one of them was newly married and another had just had a baby. “I told them, they would have to undergo six to eight months of voice, language, physical and psychological training in Mumbai from the first week of June, which for them might not be easy because of responsibilities on the home front.”

After the search is over, what kind of band can we expect?

“My job ends with the final hunt. Band making is the channel’s responsibility,” he clarifies.

But we have enough of pop albums displaying unhealthy songs, not meant for family viewing?

“That is really sad, but I have decided to select only real talents who need not do any gimmick to popularise themselves.”

Fed up with “repetitive” numbers in films, Palash is soon coming out with his third video album “Ab Na Ja” the cassette of which is called “Gali” that comprises 12 songs, “patriotic, folk, children’s songs, qawwali, prayer and style numbers.” And he promises, “You can watch it with family members.”

We would like to believe it. Meanwhile, Palash is on the lookout for talents who are single and unencumbered.

Videos of all Songs by Euphoria

As on One of the news Site

Euphoria: Palash Sen

Euphoria: Palash Sen

He makes no ‘bones’ about his love for the seven notes. Dr Palash Sen is by qualification an orthopaedic surgeon and by passion a musician.
Dr Palash Sen (he would prefer the prefix, he says) is out with his newest album, Mehfooz, on Saregama. The very different video of the title-track is making waves for its refreshing concept by Pradeep Parineeta Sarkar. We catch up with the Delhi-based doc at the latter’s office and analyze the good doctor’s treatment plan of his music.

Is this a Dr Palash Sen album or an Euphoria one?

Obviously an Euphoria one. I am the writer, music director and lead vocalist but Euphoria has always been a team right from our first album Dhoom in the late ’90s. We are the No.1 live band in India today. My team consists of DJ Bhaduri on the bass, Hitesh Madan on the guitars, Benny Pinto on the keyboard, Ashwin Verma on the drums, Prashant Trived on the tabla and Rakesh on the dholak. There are 12 tracks.

How do you see your evolution from that first album to Mehfooz?

I think that the Indian listener has matured, and therefore so has our music. The rough edges are being smoothened out.

How did the concept of Mehfooz come about?

I would give all the credit for this to my friend Meghna Gulzar, who gave me a break as actor and playback singer in her film Filhaal. Mehfooz means ‘Safe’ or ‘Secure’ and Meghna was planning a film of this name and told me to do a theme song for it based on her story idea. So I wrote ‘Zindagi hai dhuan to kya…’ where the concept was of socially separated lovers where the man feels secure because of the depth of their love for each other.

But the video says something else.

Yes, Pradeep-da took the concept to another mind-blowing dimension. I went to him for the video because we did not want the clichéd kind of stuff or any skin show. Pradeep-da has been associated with Euphoria from the time of ‘Dhoom pichak…’ which was our breakthrough as well as his first major music video. He has also done our ‘Dhoom gali…’ and ‘Mai ri…’. But besides my relationship with him, I must say that he is as romantic and emotional as I am.

What’s a surgeon doing in musical terrain?

Besides the fact that I was always interested in music, I would term my stepping into the arena as a beautiful mishap that happened around 1995-1996. That’s when I started making my own songs. Please note that Euphoria is also a medical term!

Is there a gene for music anywhere in your family?

Yes. For four generations we have all been doctors and musicians. My chacha is also a doctor who sings. But I am the first in the family to take to music as a profession. My mother is very unhappy about my musical career, because there is much more money and security in medicine than in the kind of music I do!

What motivated the plunge?

Medicine and medical training gives you one reality-check – the eventuality called Death! So I thought that if God has blessed me with this gift, I must do something in this life to develop it. Maybe I will make less money, but I will die content that I lived my life and talent to the full.

Have you completely left medicine?

Well, my clinic is still operational – mom is a doctor and looks after it – and I do attend to some cases. But surgeries are obviously out.

Your turnover as a musician is quite limited.

That’s the way I want it. After Dhoom in 1998 there was Phir Dhoom in 2000 and Aana Meri Gali in 2003.

Today, Indipop has touched an all-time low.

Yes, but Euphoria has never been a typical Indipop member. I call my music ‘Hind-Rock’, a separate genre.

Explain.

Our sound is not synthesized and there is thus a rawness to it. We treat our vocals differently. And I pay the greatest importance to words.

Isn’t that where the core of the current mediocrity lies?

Well, I have always been exposed to Hindi and Urdu and have made conscious efforts to get better and better at them. ‘Mehfooz’ itself is a word whose meaning I was quite unawae of a few years ago. My mother is a Dogra and my upbringing in Delhi has helped a Bengali like me become very conversant with Hindi and Urdu literature.

What are the influences on your life, lyrics and music?

What we become is obviously what we are made. I am from a middle-class family where values are strongest. It is the middle-class that is educated to the maximum, works the most, suffers the most hardships, and follows the rules and laws of the country to the fullest! So my songs reflect this base. But speaking of musical influences I have been very lucky.

How is that?

I have been brought up on all kinds of music, and between them my father, uncle and grandfather had virtually exposed me to and made me appreciate the best points of a gamut of musical genres. To list them, I have listened to Indian classical, folk, film music, Sufiana songs, various other devotional music, ghazal, qawwali, Carnatic music, Indipop, Western classical, rock, jazz, pop and all other genres down to today’s hot genres.

How was the experience of acting and singing in Filhaal?

Well, I loved the singing part. Anu Malik gave me really good songs and was very encouraging and supportive. Of course I also had the pleasure of singing Gulzar-saab’s poetry in the film. As for acting it was a one-off kind of adventure and I am not likely to venture into it again unless I am offered something extraordinary.

It was asked in one of the author Mr.Rajiv Vijayakar for screen weekly.

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Really EUPHORIA is not a money or Fame oriented band but its a Band who believes and lives in Music. These 5 gentlemens breathe in Music…..

Keep on reading to know more about the band…..

Videos of all Songs by Euphoria

Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom

Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom: Can you remember?
Such a unique music… so very much Indian…

It was loved by all the ages and gender… It was the birth song of Euphoria in the Indian Music.

The 5 talented chaps from Delhi….. had just rock the nation.

Let me tell you what Sify Celebrity Talk discovered about the lead singer “Palash Sen” as a Fitness Person.

Here it Goes…..

Palash Sen is doctor by profession and is also into singing.

How do you start your day food ise?
I am dead against the idea of having bed tea. The stomach is not ready for something hot in the morning. After a quick jog or a workout, the first thing that I have is a glass of lime juice or pomegranate juice.

Do you ever fast?
I may not fast but yes once in a week go on a fruit diet. On that day I have fruits and nothing else. This way the system gets to relax and clear the toxin built up. Going on a total fast is harmful for the body as a doctor I can tell you that.

What is your all time favourite food?
Fish and that too cooked by my mom. She is not a Bengali but still manages to cook fish fabulously. She can cook practically all kinds of fish from Rohu to Pompret. I also dig for prawns in all shapes and sizes.

What is your advice on food and fitness for the health conscious?
In recent times food binging is the biggest health hazard I have noticed in people. While some of us may say we’ve binged if we eat a big handful of potato wafers, in reality, a binge is a much larger amount of food often 5,000 to 10, 000 calories eaten in one sitting. And it’s usually women who binge. My advice would be to eat whenever the hunger bangs are bothering you don’t keep curtailing or else one could end up binging one fine day of the week.

What about all the health tablets being sold openly across the counters these days?
Don’t pop in a tablet till you are not sure what it is for. Show it to your doctor or dietician and seek advice. Usually a healthy meal has all the nutrients the body needs so there is no need to go on these tablets. Nevertheless if you feel the need for a multivitamin intake go for the pills after reading the instructions given on the foil.

Wow that’s an advice from a doctor….. But I think it’s not Dhoom Keep Checking this blog so that I can get more interesting stuffs for you…..

Till than “Let’s DHOOM”

Videos of all Songs by Euphoria