Bengalis love their fish, their football, and then some adda (gossip). But rock and roll, urban pop??? You bet! The 400-odd people at the concert by New England’s very own Bengali band, Apaar Bangla, would testify to that. Those who could, swung wildly in the aisle as the band belted out their renditions of popular Bengali numbers as well as their own compositions. And those who were too shy, warmed their seats clapping to the beat.

As their name suggests, the Boston-based band endeavors to break the boundaries of music. A multi-ethnic band with members from Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and the U.S, Apaar Bangla composes original music as well as plays popular contemporary songs. At the concert, held at the Watertown Middle School on June 5, the band showcased some of their original compositions such as Corporate, Rainy Day, Romeo & Juliet, Paanch Minute-er Bondhu (friends for 5 mins), Keu Kotha Rakheni (unkept promises), Bhag (division), and Ke Bollo Bangla Gaan-e Nacha Jay Na (Bengali music can also make you dance).

They draw inspiration from genres as diverse as rock and roll, urban pop, and Bangla folk music. Instrumentally too, the band composition reflects the diversity of their music—as they bring together instruments such as the keyboards, flute, tabla, guitar, bass guitar, drums, harmonica, and various other percussion. The instruments blend seamlessly and create an ambience that is as mellifluous as it is rocking. What makes the band unique is their versatility and their ability to follow up a rock and roll number like corporate with a soft romantic ballad like Rainy Day and perform every genre with equal aplomb.  Apaar Bangla consists of Fawad (keyboards and vocals), Prithwiraj (vocals), Laura (drums and flute), Paul (bass guitar), Koushik (vocals, tabla and other percussion), Rama (vocals, harmonica, handsonic, and other percussion), and Debadeep (guitar).

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