The 90s and early 2000s in India — dial-up modems buzzing like angry hornets, the heady scent of Brut aftershave, and CD collections taking the place of Cassette tapes in study rooms of Indian teenagers; Walkmans buzzing with Shahrukh Khan’s romantic ballads, ripped jeans, 'coffee dates' replacing 'chai breaks' and the era of Cyber Cafes, where the click-clack of keyboards echoed like Morse code for a new generation.
It was a time of tectonic shifts, not just geo-political but musical as well. Between Bollywood's sequinned fantasies and cricket's adrenaline rush, in the burgeoning landscape of Indi-Pop, amidst the synth-driven melodies and playful lyrics, emerged a band that resonated with a raw, visceral intensity — Euphoria.
Its music wasn't just background noise for awkward school dances or bubblegum romances. It was a soundtrack with a soul, lyricism with a beat and a go-to sound for the churning anxieties of a love-struck generation finding its voice. "Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom'' with its distorted drum sounds and Palash Sen's impassioned vocals, became an anthem for rebellion among young lovers. "Ab Na Ja," a lament for lost school/college romance, resonated with every teenager facing the harsh realities of adulthood and re-uniting with their lost teenage love.
These weren't pop-polished, auto-tuned or high quality studio recorded choruses but unfiltered emotions woven into sonic tapestries.
With upbeat and fast paced Hindi rock songs such as “Sha Na Na” and “Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gully”, Euphoria experimented flawlessly and caught the attention of an entire generation grappling with its identity, searching for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The range was so wide, that Euphoria did not shy away from creating emotional and heart-wrenching melodies such as “Mehfuz” which till date remains one of the classiest separation songs ever.
Euphoria's live shows were electric, charged with a potent mix of energy and intimacy. Palash, a charismatic Pied Piper, would weave through the crowd, sweat slicking his hair, his voice blending seamlessly with the pulsating rhythms. The audience wasn't just watching; they were participants in this shared catharsis, belting out lyrics they felt etched into their souls.
And this brings us to the mention of the cult classic, the song that still holds an entire generation together, the song that helps us vibe with fellow millennials in parties and pubs filled with GenZs — “Maaeri” created a new wave of music in India. The soul in the song with the pitch range of Palash captivated India like a song had never done before.
The band's legacy extends far beyond catchy tunes and sold-out concerts. They challenged the very definition of "rock" in India. It wasn't just about English lyrics and leather jackets anymore. Euphoria showed that rock could be sung in Hindi, could be rooted in Indian music, could pulse with desi rhythms, and could still carry the fire of rebel love and the weight of existential angst. They paved the way for a generation of Indian bands to find their voice, to sing their stories, and to prove that rock music didn't have to come with an accent.
Today, as we sift through our dusty CD collections, the scratchy melodies of Euphoria transport us back to a time of cigarette smoke-filled cafes where a small town Indian teenager contemplated the future, which like Cable TV’s future, seemed to be flickering and shaky. The youth of late 90s and early 2000s were a kaleidoscope of contradictions - restless and rooted, traditional and rebellious, wired and grounded. They were the ink that splashed vibrant colour onto the canvas of a changing India, leaving behind a legacy that still whispers in the bustling streets and flickering screens of today. Basically, they reflect what Euphoria’s music stood for.
Euphoria is more than just a band; they were a cultural phenomenon, a voice for a generation that dared to dream, to question, and to sing its own damn song. They were Euphoria, and their echoes still reverberate through the Indian rock scene, reminding us of a time when music wasn't just entertainment, it was a revolution.
So, let us crank up the volume, rewind those cassette tapes, and let the anthems of the 90s drown out the noise of the present. For in the raw energy of Euphoria's music, we find not just nostalgia, but a reminder that the fire of youth still burns, waiting to be rekindled.
(Edited by : C H Unnikrishnan)
