Friday, October 21, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
10 years of Kohal
- SF 96 IITKGP: Full Video https://youtu.be/_DOjgtDjMtw
- Yaman Fusion: SF 96 https://youtu.be/9Q0ugqglWzg
- Sach Mere Yaar Hain: SF 96 IITKGP https://youtu.be/5MmXYDR-tzk
- Sach Mere Yaar Hain: Light For Education 2012 https://youtu.be/B7bnt_aAaxo
- Dil Hai Chhotasa, 2007 https://youtu.be/XKft3XO77DI
- Mou Bone Aaj Mu Jomechhe (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCu_TnLtLc
- Na Jaane Kyun, 2008 https://youtu.be/V25yyz-agdA?t=1568
- Ajeeb Dastan Hai, 2009 https://youtu.be/N1K7xYR_mBs
- Aye Dil Hain Mushkil, 2009 https://youtu.be/U0LEY-eNVJ4
- Sohosa Ele (2009): https://youtu.be/hJXMF_nyw68?t=300
- Rubaru (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmhZXkmbu-U
- Amar Nishitho Raater Badol Dhara (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZaQh9riaE
- Jokhon Nirobe Dure (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W1X6dX3FKE
- Iktara, 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It9UjihIt94
- Dil Hai Chhotasa, 2010 https://youtu.be/JeZmFk87CdQ?list=PL85FE5620A10ECED5
- Aap Ke Haseen Rukh (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdh6_3T_YGA
- Lakho Hain Yahan Dilwale, 2010 https://youtu.be/O2bhTM1qH6c?list=PL85FE5620A10ECED5
- O Sajna Barkha Bahar Ayi, 2010 https://youtu.be/6q8ZaOexpUw?list=PL85FE5620A10ECED5
- Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DC3Qtcnipk
- Lag Ja Gale & Sach Mere Yaar Hai, 2011 https://youtu.be/cK59MHmEZAs?list=RD3WQlXYc949k
- Senorita, 2011 https://youtu.be/Q37K3PYW6K4
- Sam Gachchhadhvam Sam Vadadhvam (2011): https://youtu.be/AaNDLjizBMo?t=122
- Itti Si Haasi & Malaika, 2012 https://youtu.be/XNeMKsAEPH4?t=625
- Kahin Dur Jab & Pukarta Chala Hoon Main (2012): https://youtu.be/XNeMKsAEPH4?t=1181
- Nora Jones (Mou), 2014 https://youtu.be/KhAUejKC-xo?t=2051
- Ahoraho Tabo Ahoban, 2015 https://youtu.be/5YoSqPEHcqw
- Dum Dum Mast Kalandar, 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsyvlxVfCcE
- Sanwara, 2016: https://youtu.be/lapAaNilw0Q
- Kohal 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OpjauFmmD0
- Kohal 2008: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25yyz-agdA
- Kohal 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe7IJ6pye-U
- Kohal 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZAD2bZAoI8
- Kohal 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k04RVO0wM3I
- Kohal 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNeMKsAEPH4
- Kohal 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhAUejKC-xo
- Kohal 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-MXtpqpon4
- Kohal 2016: https://youtu.be/lapAaNilw0Q
- 2007: https://goo.gl/photos/dbUdT3B4u3swihxc9
- 2008: https://goo.gl/photos/EMTFAMrTNFoxy2Ep9
- 2009: https://goo.gl/photos/HLWHwi4NMGhCfomt7
- 2010: https://goo.gl/photos/cdpsjbSZD7K1PNsU8
- 2011: https://goo.gl/photos/kFntMQBD9hEBiNix6
- 2012: https://goo.gl/photos/bBUhjSPQqxwRhJvp6
- 2014: https://goo.gl/photos/4jr42cUNzEsNMi5o8
- 2015: https://goo.gl/photos/7oWK2uwePxnVPHiA9
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
INET 2011 Bangalore: Audio Recording (Very Bad Quality)
Live Streaming of the entire program.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Our 4th performance in 2011
- Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jayein - Anandaroop
- Bar Bar Dekho - Anandaroop
- Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra - Anandaroop
- Iktara - Ranjita
- Yeh Mera Dil - Ranjita
- Sach Mere Yaar Hai - Sudipto
- 2 Western numbers - Pinky
- DK Bose - Shankar
- Buffer - what? Anup da was saying we may be requested to do some more numbers. Let's have some plan for this. I'm sure when we'd be requested we've to do really fast numbers. Shankar - why don't you keep something ready for this?
Monday, October 3, 2011
2011 Recording (Performance @ Sarathi, 3rd October)
http://www.4shared.com/playlist/je0uUL0z/Kohal-2011__Sarathi_.html
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
2011 Songs!!
- Janeman Janeman - This one was our favorite long long time back. We did it last time in 96 in college and I don't know why we never tried this in Bangalore. So we'd be trying this after 15 years!! Rumki & Anandaroop (Salil)
- Hawa Ke Sath Sath - Rumki & someone in male vocals. I'll get one person next time and he should be able to take up some songs. We're doing this for the first time and it's coming quite well (RD)
- Kali Palak Piya Gori - Roopa & Anup, wonderful selection by Anup da. (RD)
- Sham Hai - Rumki & Ranjita, from Don, we did in 2007. (Shankar Ehsan Loy)
- Yeh Mera Dil - Ranjita (Kalyanji Anandji)
- It's Rocking - Rumki & Ranjita, again a repeat from 2007 (Pritam)
- Sajna Ve - Rumki, repeat from 2007 (Sandesh Sandilya)
- Kaisi Pehli - Rumki, repeat from 2007 (Shantanu Moitra)
- Chor Bazari - new one, Anandaroop & Rumki (Pritam)
- Aap Jaisa Koi - Ranjita, a new one this time (Biddu)
- Lag Ja Gale - Roopa, new one this time (Madan Mohan)
- Suno Sajna - Roopa, (Lakshmikant Pyarelal)
- Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jayein - Andaroop, our favorite from college days, but we never tried in Bangalore (Salil)
- Hoyto Tomari Jonyo, Bengali, Anandaroop
- Tomar Patho Pane Chahi or some other Bengali, Anandaroop
- Sach Mere Yaar Hain - Instrumental (RD)
- Sanorita - Rumki & Ranjita will try this one.
- As usual we'll have an invocation base on a Tagore's composition. This year is Tagore's 150th birth anniversary. We'll insert some instrumental in between based on Tagore songs.
- We'll also have a regional pick, either Tamil or Kannada.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Autograph
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Order of songs for 2010
Regional Pick
- Dil Hai Chhota Sa
- Ninnindale
- Chanda Re
Prithu's Piano
- Aap Ke Haseen Rukh
- Bar Bar Dekho
- Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche
Instrumental
- Iktara
- Subhanalla
- Do Labzon Ki
- Lakhon Hai Yahan Dilwale
- Kajra Mohabbat Wala
- Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Kohal 2010 - Lyrics
(aajakal tere mere pyaar ke charche har zabaan par
sabako maalUm hai aur sabako khabar ho gaI ) - 2
(hamane to pyaar me.n aisaa kaam kar liyaa
pyaar kii raah me.n apanaa naam kar liyaa ) - 2
pyaar kii raah me.n apanaa naam kar liyaa
aajakal ...
(do badan ek din ek jaan ho gae
ma.nzile.n ek huii.n hamasafar ban gae ) - 2
ma.nzile.n ek huii.n hamasafar ban gae
aajakal ...
(kyo.n bhalaa ham Dare.n dil ke maalik hai.n ham
har janam me.n tujhe apanaa maanaa sanam ) - 2
har janam me.n tujhe apanaa maanaa sanam
aajakal ...
meraa naam chin-chin-chuu
meraa naam chin-chin-chuu
chin-chin-chuu baabaa chin-chin-chuu
raat chaa.Ndanii mai.n aur tuu
##hello, mister, how do you do?##
baabuujii mai.n chiin se aaii chiinii jaisaa dil laaii
si.ngaapur kaa yauvan meraa shaa.Nghaaii kii a.Nga.Daaii
dil par rakh le haath zaraa, ho jaae na paagal tuu
meraa naam chin-chin-chuu
o baabuujii mai.n aur aap, kitanaa achchhaa huaa milaap
tujhako dekh tabiiyat bha.Dakii, alaadiin kii mai.n huu.N la.Dakii
phuu.Nk duu.N ma.ntar chhuu chuu chuu, si.ndabaad ##the sailor## tuu
meraa naam chin-chin-chuu
baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho
baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho
ke dekhane kii chiiz hai, hamaaraa dilarubaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho
(haa.N jii haa.N, aur bhii ho.nge diladaar yahaa.N
laakho.n dilo.n kii bahaar yahaa.N
par ye baat kahaa.N ) - 2
ye bemisaal husn, laajavaab ye aadaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho
(dil milaa, ek jaan-e-mahafil milaa
yaa chiraaG-e-ma.nzil milaa
ye na puuchho ke kahaa.N ) - 2
nayaa nayaa ye aashiqii kaa raaz hai merA, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho
(balle balle, uThake misTar kyo.n chale
pyaar pe mere kaho kyo.n jale
baiTh bhii jaao meharabaa.N ) - 2
duaa karo mile tumhe.n bhii aisaa dilarubaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho
aapake hasiin ruK pe aaj nayaa nuur hai
aapake hasiin ruK pe aaj nayaa nuur hai
meraa dil machal gayaa to meraa kyaa qusuur hai
aap kii nigaah ne kahaa to kuchh zuruur hai
meraa dil machal gayaa to meraa kyaa qusuur hai
khulii laTo.n kii chhaa.Nv me.n khilaa-khilaa saa ruup hai
ghaTaa pe jaise chhaa rahii subah-subah kii dhuup hai
jidhar nazar mu.Dii udhar suruur hii suruur hai
meraa dil ...
jhukii-jhukii nigaah me.n bhii hai.n balaa kii shoKiyaa.N
dabii-dabii ha.nsii me.n bhii ta.Dap rahii hai.n bijaliyaa.N
shabaab aap kaa nashe me.n Kud hii chuur-chuur hai
meraa dil ...
jahaa.N-jahaa.N pa.De kadam vahaa.N fizaa.n badal ga_ii
ki jaise sar-basar bahaar aap hii me.n Dhal ga_ii
kisii me.n ye kashish kahaa.N jo aap me.n huzuur hai
meraa dil ...
kajaraa muhabbat vaalaa
kajaraa muhabbat vaalaa, a.Nkhiyo.n me.n aisaa Daalaa
kajare ne le lii merii jaan
haay re mai.n tere qurabaan
duniyaa hai mere pIchhe, lekin mai.n tere pIchhe
apanaa banaa le merii jaan,
haay re ...
aaI ho kahaa.N se gorii aa.Nkho.n me.n pyaar le ke
cha.Dhatii javaanii kii ye pahalii phuhaar le ke
dillii shahar kaa saaraa miinaa baazaar le ke
jhumakaa barelii vaalaa kaano.n me.n aisaa Daalaa
jhumake ne le lii merii jaan, haay re ...
moTar naa ba.ngalaa maa.Nguu.N jhumakaa naa haar maa.NgU.N
dil ko chalaane vaale dil kaa qaraar maa.Nguu.N
sa_iyaa.n bedardii mere tho.Daa saa pyaar maa.Nguu.N
kismat banaa de merii apanaa banaa le merii
kar le sagaaii merii jaan, haay re ...
jab se hai dekhaa tujhako ho gae gulaam tere
apanaa banaa le gorii aae.nge kaam tere
apanaa ye jiivan saaraa likh de.nge naam tere
kurtaa ye jaalii vaalaa usapar motiyan kii maalaa
kurte ne le lii merii jaan, haay re ...
laakho.n hai yahaa.N dila vaale
laakho.n hai yahaa.N dila vaale, aur pyaar nahii.n milataa
aa.Nkho.n me.n kisii kii vafaa kaa, iqaraar nahii.n milataa
mahafil mahafil jaa dekhaa, har dil me.n samaa kar dekhaa
har saaz pe gaa kar dekhaa
dil ko kahii.n chain naa milaa - 2
mai.n to duniyaa me.n pyaare akelaa hii rahaa
laakho.n hai yahaa.N ...
is dil ko kahaa.N le jaae.n, kuchh aap agar faramaae.n
to aap ke ham ho jaae.n
kah do hame.n ha.nsake zaraa - 2
ajii jo kuchh bhii dil ne tumhaare hai kahaa
laakho.n hai yahaa.N ...
do lafzo.n kii
do lafzo.n kii hai, dil kii kahaanii
yaa hai mohabbat, yaa hai javaanii
dil kii baato.n kaa matalab na puuchho
kuchh aur hamase bas ab na puuchho
jisake liye hai, duniyaa diivaanii
yaa hai mohabbat, yaa hai hai javaanii
is zi.ndagii ke, din kitane kam hai
kitane hai Kushiyaa.N, aur kitane Gam hai.n
lag jaa gale se, rut hai suhaanii
yaa hai mohabbat, yaa hai javaanii
ye kashtii vaalaa, kyaa gaa rahaa hai
koii ise bhii, yaad aa rahaa hai
jisake liye hai, duniyaa diivaanii
yaa hai mohabbat, yaa hai javaanii
do lafzo.n kii hai, dil kii kahaanii
yaa hai mohabbat, yaa hai javaanii
Iktara
O re manwa tu to bawra hai
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai
Baware
Kyun dikhaye sapne tu sote jaagte
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Nainon ko moond moond
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Kaise main chaloon
Dekh na sakoon
Anjaane raaste
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Lyricsmasti.com
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Sun rahi hoon sudhbudh kho ke
Koi main kahani
Puri kahani hai kya kisi hai pata
Main to kisiki ho ke yeh bhi na jaani
Ruth hai yeh do pal ki ya rahegi sada
Kise hai pata
kise hai pata
Lyricsmasti.com
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Nainon ko moond moond
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Kaise main chaloon
Dekh na sakoon
Anjaane raaste
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
chaand sifarish jo karta hamari
hmm hmm hmm hmmm la la la
hey hey hey hey ah ha
subhaan allaah subhaan allah subhaan allah
subhaan allaah subhaan allah subhaan allah
valle valle
valle valle
valle valle
chaand sifarish jo karta hamari deta woh tumko bata
sharm-o-haya pe parde gira ke karni hain hamko khata
zidd hain ab toh hain khud ko mitana hona hain tujhmein fanaa
chaand sifarish jo karta hamari deta woh tumko bata
sharm-o-haya pe parde gira ke karni hain hamko khata
valle valle
valle valle
teri adaa bhi hain jhonke wali chhu ke gujar jaane de
teri lachak hain ke jaise daali dil mein utar jaane de
aaja baahon mein karke bahana hona hain tujhmein fanaa
chaand sifarish jo karta hamari deta woh tumko bata
sharm-o-haya pe parde gira ke karni hain hamko khata
subhaan allaah subhaan allah subhaan allah
subhaan allaah subhaan allah subhaan allah
hain jo iraaden bata doon tumko sharma hi jaaogi tum
dhadakanen jo suna doon tumko ghabraa hi jaaogi tum
hamko aata nahi hain chhupana hona hain tujhmein fanaa
chaand sifarish jo karta hamari deta woh tumko bata
sharm-o-haya pe parde gira ke karni hain hamko khata
zidd hain ab toh hain khud ko mitana hona hain tujhmein fana
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Songs for this year
- Aguner Parashmani: Invocation, in all the past few years we've always started the show with a Tagore song.
- Iktara (Ranjita) – G: Wonderful song from Wake Up Sid and composed excellently by National Award winner Amit Trivedi
- Aap Ki Haseen Rukh (Anandaroop) – G: No doubt one of Rafi's best and O P Nayyar's gem
- Dil Hai Chota Sa (Roopa) – D: Our signature that we've been doing ever since Rahman has composed it sometime in 1992. We'll do the Tamil version of the song
- Chanda Re (Roopa & Karthik) – D: Another Rahman number
- Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche (Anandaroop & Roopa) – G: A typical Shammi Kapoor, Rafi, Shankar Jaikishan combination
- Ninnindale (Karthik) – D: Regional pick, one of the most popular Kannada songs off late
- Bar Bar Dekho (Anandaroop)– G: Again another Shammi + Rafi combination
- Do lafzon Ki (Ranjita)– A: Asha/RD number, we can't have any show without them
- Kajra Mohabbatwala (Roopa & Ranjita)– F: A well tested number, we'd done it few years back - one of the nest female duets ever made in Hindi.
- Lakhon Hai Dilwale (Anandaroop)– G: Though not a Rafi number, still it's very Rafish. We've tried to keep many Rafi numbers this time because this is Rafi's 30th death anniversary
- Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu (Ranjita)- B Flat: Needs no introduction, one of best songs of Geeta Dutt
- O Sajna (Instrumental): We rarely do a show without any Salil number.
- Subhanalla (Anoop): One of Jatin-Lalit's last compositions and no doubt a terrific one.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Final List of songs
Sudipto Das
http://www.mirafra.com
http://www.sudiptodas.com
Tentative song list for the October Show
Let me welcome Anisha, the newest member in our team. She plays Classical
Piano.
Here is the tentative song list
Goopi
Bar bar Dekho:
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=3970
aap Ki Haseen Rukh:
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=2402
Aaj Kal tere mere pyar ke charche (duet with either Bhags or Roopa):
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=4284
Ferari Mon (Bengali, duet with Bhags):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HKP_PNAag
Bhags
Iktara:
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=22910
Do labzon ki:
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=5057
One Sunidhi Chauhan number
Instru
O Sajna:
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=141
Roopa
Dil hai chhota sa (Tamil version):
http://bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_song.tcl?action=show&mode=normal&song_id=20583
Karthik
One popular Kannada number of Sonu Nigam like Mungaru Male
Thanks & Regards,
Sudipto
+91-9886067137,
http://www.mirafra.com
Monday, July 26, 2010
Kohal will perform at Koramangala on 15th October
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Video of Kohal's performance on Rabindra Jayanti @ Koramangala, Bangalore
Video of Kohal's performance on Rabindra Jayanti @ Koramangala, Bangalore
Video of Kohal's performance in 2009, September @ Koramangala, Bangalore
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Kohal's audio video recordings
Kohal's performance in 2009
- The very rarely heard later stanzas of a Rabindra Sangeet, whose first stanza is our National Anthem - we're starting our program with this
- Amar Nishitho Rater Badol Dhara (আমার নিশীথ রাতের বাদল ধারা), a Rabindra Sangeet presented as an instrumental in violin and piano
- Tomake Chai (তোমাকে চাই), the song with which Suman had changed the landscape of Bengali songs in the last decade
- Rehman's Rubaroo & Genda Ful
- Dhol Yara - from Dev D
- Kya Tumne Hai Sun Liya - a composition by Zakir Hussain for the movie Saaz
- Dil Ne Tum Ko - from Jhankaar Beats
- Surer Ei Jhorna (সুরের এই ঝরণা) - a masterpiece of Salil Chowdhury with awesome harmony
- Anjan Dutta's Marry Ann
- Saiyonee - a medley of the original song along with an Arabic song and a Lalan Fakir's Baul song
- A medley of Bengali folk songs
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Inter IIT Musical Evening: Moods and Melodies
and Melodies" Inter IIT Musical evening on 8th of november, 2008 as a fund
raiser event for "Village knowledge centers" initiative of IITB AA.
To register any IITian can send mail to saumil@sportzvillage.com.
VKC's inspiration was from former President APJ Kalam's vision of each
IITian adopting one Village Knowledge Center across India - and
revolutionizing the village through technology and knowledge.
The 1st VKC has been operational in Ittamadu (a few kms from Eagleton)
over the last few years - and this fund-raising is to open more VKCs. The
Panchayat and villagers have been very enthusiastic and other villages are
asking for VKCs.
http://www.iitbombay.org/VKC/index.html has the details of the VKC
initiative.
IITB AA plans to set up and run Village Knowledge Centres in and around
Bangalore Rural. These VKCs would act as a nodal centre for knowledge
connectivity of villages. Pilot VKC has already been launched and fully
functional over past few years at Ittamadu.
"Moods and Melodies" evening will see bands from across the IITs playing
the choicest numbers. With an expected turnout of over 300 alumni and
family members, evening will be lively with the presence of many
distinguished alumni.
All proceeds from the event will be used for setting up VKCs.
As you can imagine, we are seeking sponsorship for the event - and
advertising in the souvenir (ranging from 10k to 1L) - in addition to
pledges. You can also adopt a VKC as an individual.
If any of you can assist on the sponsorship/fundraising front, please
write to us.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 8th November, Saturday
Time: 7:00 Pm - 10:00 pm including dinner
Venue: Royal Orchid, next to KGA.
Entry fee: INR 300/person. 150/- for kids below 12.
Chief Guest: Prof. D B Phatak (Computer Science, IIT Bombay)
To Register: Email Rahul [rahulchaubey@gmail.com] or Saumil
[saumil@sportzvillage.com]
Please block your calendars and inform other Bangalore-based IIT alumni.
We welcome you to have a great evening with your friends and cherish the
memories of hostel days.
More about VKC:
Website: http://www.iitbombay.org/VKC/index.html
For Donations/Volunteers please contact: Srikant Rao [srikant.rao@abs.in ]
Address: 565 E, 7th Main, 5th Cross, H.A.L. II Stage, Indiranagar,
Bangalore -38. Cell. 98450 29010
Thanks & Regards,
Sudipto
+91-9886067137,
http://www.mirafra.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Origin of Kohal
The origin of Kohal dates back to mid-nineties when a few of us, Anandaroop aka Goopi, Manu Verghese, Subhashish Satapathy aka Satu, Ashwin Kamath aka Bachcha, Debashish Sarkar, myself and few others, all staying in RK Hall in IIT KGP had come together to win back the Inter Hall Eastern Music Competition from Nehru Hall!! That was, most probably in '94, in my 3rd year. Not to mention that we'd won the inter Hall event, reviving the lost glory of RK Hall in excellence in music. This gave us the opportunity to perform in the innauguration of 1995 Spring Fest. The enthusiasm was further increased when, in a short while, we all became part of the Eastern TMS (Technology Music Society), the official Music Band of IIT KGP. Subsequently for the next many years RK Hall remained the seat for Eastern TMS. We're joined by Kanishka aka Molu, Dilip aka Fish, Ranjita aka Bhags and few more people in July 95. We brought drastic changes in the format of the TMS shows. He proved to the people that good music doesn't have any genre or age or class. We performed our signature numbers ranging from semi-classical, fusion, folk, old and new songs and even Bengali songs to packed Netaji Auditorium. I graduated in 96, Goopi in 97, Molu & Bhags in 98, Fish in 99, but the tradition of good genre-less music continued in RK Hall and Eastern TMS for quite some time.
I settled in Bangalore, Goopi went to Boulder in Colorado and Molu & Bhags to University of California at San Diego, California for their higher studies. We're always in touch. But we never got a chance to perform together again till 2007. Goopi moved to Bangalore in 2004 and Molu & Bhags, by then already married to themselves, in 2007. In all these years we'd always aspired to perform together and revive our TMS. Very soon after Molu & Bhags had moved to Bangalore we started discussions about our plan to put up a performance. The opportunity came very soon. We're given a prime slot to perform in the Durga Puja organized by Sarathi in Koramangala in 2007. Few of us had already performed in the same place in 2005 with very limited resource. In 2007 we wanted to put up a very professional show. We're joined by Kamalesh Ghosh, Kanishka's batch-mate and very good guitarist and singer. He was part of the Western TMS during his KGP days. Between myself, Goopi, Molu, Bhags & Kamalesh we'd a lead guitarist (Kamalesh), base (Molu), two male singers (Goopi & Kamalesh), one female singer (Bhags) and one violin (myself). But that was not sufficient to put up a compact show. We needed one more female singer, drums and a key-boardist. That's when we're joined by Bhag's colleagues Amrita (female singer) along with her husband Parag (key-boardist) & Ashwin (drummer, who also had his own drum-kit), Kamalesh's colleagues Arindam (another lead guitarist) & Arijit (one more drummer) and Dipanjan (another male singer), a friend of Ritu, Kamalesh's wife!! So finally we'd a complete team. We're missing a percussionist, which we finally hired. We started reherasing as early as August for the show in October. As the drum-kit was not possible to be moved from place to place, Molu & Bhags volunteered to make their house the permanent practice point. The first few practice sessions were spent mainly in debates on song selection. We stuck to our USP, i.e. an exotic platter with a tremendous mix of everything. So finally we had retro songs like Geeta Dut's "Meri Jaan, Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho" & the evergreen "Kajra Mohabbatwala", Rehman's "Dil Hai Chhota Sa" in instrumental, which we'd done innumerable times in IIT, Hemanta's signature song "Gayer Bodhu", new popular numbers like "Aaj Ki Raat" from Don & "Kaisi Pehli" from Parineeta presented in a jazz style and a few popular numbers from contemporary Bengali rock and folk bands. To compere the show we had Jhuma, then a DJ with the Worldspace Radio.
Just before the performance, when the posters for the programs were being printed, we figured out that there has to be a name for our band. That's when I came up with the name Kohal, which is the name of a very uncommon Raaga in Hindustaani Classical Music. The name is attractive, sounds good, is very unique and also related to music. The uncommon name did arouse some curiosity among the audience, something very good for the marketing of the name!!