— By Aiyushman Dutta

BAND WATCH : XFIVE CLAN - Entertainment unlimited!

Now this is a band which can indeed make a difference. With their unique dressing style and funky presentation, they stand out the moment they get on stage. Although they still have a long way to go, this is a package of full-on entertainment, with the members feeding their audience with the best of what they got. This is X5 Clan for you.

Based out of the city, the X5 Clan focuses on all genres of music – starting from alternate rock and pop to funk and alternate punk. The band was formed by five best friends who always had their heart and soul in music. Within a very short span of time, the band has emerged as an outfit to reckon with. Combining each of their different taste in music, these young musicians have managed to evolve a new form of music which is definitely fresh and soothing to the ears. “We love our music and we love our audience. So we try to make it fun for all of us,” says Dolly Baruah – the vocalist of the band.

The band consists of five members Shekhar Baruah (vocalist and lead guitarist), Dolly Baruah (vocalist), Simanta Raj Medhi (lead guitarist), Nayan Jyoti Goswami (bass) and Subanshu Saikia (drums).

Besides just creating music, the young band also seeks to spread the social message of unity and to eliminate misunderstanding amongst the present generation. The band recently released their maiden album which is an effort towards that direction. A blend of Hindi and Assamese songs, the collection calls out for peace in the State. “Music is an universal language. So even if the songs in our album are in both Hindi and Assamese, we are sure that people will be able to relate to them,” says guitarist Shekhar Baruah. The band also simultaneously released a video song titled Hridoyr Majot, which is based on the same theme.

Since its formation, the XFIVE CLAN has performed in many regional and national-level competitions. They were also among the few selected for the popular television series India’s got Talent. “Although we could not make it to the finals, it was a really good exposure trip for us,” says Shekhar Barua, the lead vocalist of the band. They have also performed in shows like MTV Rock on, UTV Bindass - Smith and Jones music ka tadka and Yamaha Asian Beats 2011, where they were bestowed with the title of “Sharpest band of North-East”.

I am sure greater things are in store for this young energetic band.

Popular Indie Band M

Popular Indie Band M-Sonic of India’s Got Talent-Season 1 famed recently released their much anticipated Assamese music video ‘Xeema (Reprise)’.

The song ‘Xeema (Reprise)’ talks about the unity, harmony, brotherhood, border issues of North-East India, in short giving a widespread appeal to everyone to be united instead of fighting for small issues. The song has been composed by M-Sonic and lyrics is by Ibson Lal Baruah. The M-Sonic are Mainak in Vocals & Guitar, Simanta in Bass and Nishant in Drums.

The music video has been made by Creovaent Productions and is being directed by Rajnish, Puja and Prithish Chakraborty. The video has been conceptualized by Rajnish Chakraborty and currently; the video is getting good response among the youth as the song is aptly relevant to the present context of North-East India.

Bhal Khobor in RR Theatre today

Altaf Majid’s popular short feature Eta Bhal Khobor will be screened in the Films Division’s RR theatre today as part of their abstract city and national narratives programme.

Directed by Altaf Mazid, Eta Bhal Khobor is based on the story of a writer looks for a bit of good news in the days of the Assam Movement (1985-90), when the youth had sunk to the lowest depths of despair. Newspapers had chilling pages of depressing stories and to read them was to be overcome by an even greater feeling of horror and helplessness. Finally the writer discovers a small piece of news item in a morning paper that gives him hope.

The film has a very structured voice over. But the images are disjoint and abstract, at places, almost accidental. The film uses the freedom afforded by the small digital camcorder to great advantage by framing, or un-framing its subjects in the most unusual, yet gentle manner.

‘Bhal Khabar’ was screened at MIFF, Film South Asia, Kathmandu, IFFI, Goa, Gorakhpur International film Festival, Public Ka Multiplex, World Social Forum, and Ballia International film Festival.