NINE: Indiaâ€™s First Writer-Led Band

NINE: Indiaâ€™s First Writer-Led Band
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Book author, journalist, screenwriter, photographer and Bollywood lyricist Neelesh Misra who has penned down the lyrics to some very memorable songs including “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai” (Jism), “Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai” (Woh Lamhe), “Maine Dil Se Kaha” (Rog), “Gulon Mein” (Sikandar) and “Aasmaan Odh Kar” (13b), has set up India’s first writer-led band, Nine.

"As Bollywood artistes, we give words and music and vocals to the expressions of our films' protagonists," said Misra. "Nine is a small attempt to remain rooted in Bollywood—where we love working—and yet create songs that are what we want to say, the way we want to say them. Moving forward, I am hoping that Nine will become a revolving-door platform for other Bollywood colleagues to collaborate with us and do what they do not get to do in Bollywood," he further adds.

Misra is the creative director and lyrics writer of the band, which was launched on Feb. 12 during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai.

Nine also brings together Shilpa Rao (“Muddi Muddi”/”Paa”, “Woh Ajnabi”/”The Train”, “Tose Naina”/”Anwar,” “Dhol Yaara Dhol”/”Dev D”) as the lead vocalist, Abhishek Nailwal as the lead male vocalist, Amartya Rahut (“Aage Se Right”) as the composer, Karan Dalal as the executive director and Yamini Tripathi as the business head.

The band has been receiving a good response thus far. "The amazing response we got from the audience at our debut show at Kala Ghoda showed us that our work is connecting with the listeners," mentioned Misra. "The beautiful melodies created by Amartya, the soulful rendering by Shilpa and the theme of nostalgia that is at the heart of our first album—all of these got instant validation. Within the first five minutes of the show, people were clapping and cheering and whistling and singing along with Shilpa the words of the first song ‘Yaadon ke idiot box mein kyaa kya chalta hai dekho toh.’ For a song that they had never heard, from a band they had never heard, that was very gratifying," signed off Misra on a happy note.

Nine will be coming out with its first album, “Nine Lost Memories” by the end of the year.

More information about the band is available at www.bandcallednine.com.