You would have to be living under a rock if you didn't know about TopCat CCU - the brand new and only music-first venue in Kolkata (and a gastropub!). They are hosting their first Bangla rock full blown gig with Pata R Moruddyan, a Bangla roots rock band from India, with a focus on sahajiya folk forms. Fronted by singer-songwriter Abhijit Barman “Pata”, it combines the rich heritage of Baul and Fakiri music with elements of alternative and progressive rock, nu-funk and chillstep/drum-n-bass - offering a vibrant new sound in Bengali contemporary music.
Abhijit Barman “Pata” was one of the two frontmen of Bangla rock giants Cactus from 1999-2008, and was the voice behind some of its massive hits, including Mon (from the Nil Nirjane OST). Following his final departure from Cactus, Pata collaborated with a gamut of artistes, including his own project Four Wheel Drive, tabla maestros Tanmoy Bose and Shubhen Chatterjee and singer Usha Uthup, till he formed Pata R Moruddyan in 2009. The band’s debut album Shaada Kalo was a massive hit, with original songs like Mon, Ratri and his rendition of the traditional tune Kalankini Radha. The follow-up, Shaada Kalo II, was released in September 2015 by Indian Records. The album received both critical and popular praise, with the power ballad Shunlam Tumi garnering over 1.2 million YouTube views for its video.
Pata R Moruddyan underwent a major line-up change in 2017. Arka Das, known for his work with Kolkata indie faves Five Little Indians and The Ganesh Talkies, took up drums & percussion duties, while the virtuosic Aakash Ganguly joined on bass, followed by Ritaprabha Ratul Ray on guitars. The band took in Partha Bose, known for his exquisite guitar work with Fossils, in January 2018, thus completing the current line-up, with keyboard whiz Sudipto Paul also taking up production duties. In 2018, the band’s sound has evolved towards a more ambient direction that blooms in immersive, explosive live shows.
