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Band of 14 murder convicts in Bhopal Central Jail turn to music for redemption
Patriotism is what the band holds dear and music maestro AR Rahman is their icon of choice.
Their crime is murder. Their punishment is jail. Their redemption, they hope, is music.
Dealing with inner demons and longing for freedom, 14 murder convicts serving life term at Bhopal Central Jail have picked up synthesizers, cymbals, congos, tablas and keyboards to form a band that is taking them places.
Their two-year-old band is why they have briefly tasted supervised freedom once in a while.
The popularity of the band, which they are yet to name, has spread word of mouth and landed them gigs outside the jail. They have performed in colleges, and at shows at the invitation of MLAs and businessmen.
Patriotism is what the band holds dear and music maestro AR Rahman is their icon of choice.
“The music teacher in jail, Imtiaz Ahmed, inspired me to join the band. He asked me to sing most of the patriotic songs. Singing those songs gave me goosebumps and helped me cope with depression,” said chartered accountant Rajesh Nikhar, 43, who was convicted four years ago. “Music brought new hope in my life.”
Bhagwan Singh, 25, who plays the congo, said, “I can’t change my past but music will surely secure my future. Patriotic songs have brought me closer to my nation.”
The band showcases its patriotism credo with Rahman’s version of Vande Mataram, their go-to song at public performances. Other Rahman specials in their repertoire are Jai Ho from the movie Slumdog Millionaire, and Rang De Basanti’s eponymous title track.
The band’s other staples are Maa from Taare Zameen Par and Maula Mere Le Le Meri Jaan from Chak De! India.
Lead singer Rinku Azhar, 28, whom bandmates call “our AR Rahman”, said, “When we play patriotic songs, we notice that people look at us with different eyes. Our music has also helped our families reconnect with society.”
Azhar said his jail sentence drove a wedge between him and his mother, but music helped him win back her love. “My mother was sitting in front of me when I performed the first time. When I sang Maa, she was in tears. The tears bonded us again.”
The band has also tapped into hidden talents of inmates. For instance, Gangaram Jatav. “I used to make music with folded leaves as a child but people never recognised my talent. My talent found expression in jail. I became a star in jail at the age of 51,” said Jatav.
Jail superintendent Dinesh Nargave said, “The band gets a lot of praise. Minister of state for cooperatives, Vishwas Sarang, recently saw them perform.”
Authorities are toying with bigger plans for this unnamed band, according to the jail’s director general, Sanjay Chaudhary. “We are planning to send them to a TV reality show and are checking the legalities,” said Chaudhary.
Bhopal-based businessman Sunil Jainavin believes the band is good enough to make a mark on a TV show. “When the jail department gave a proposal the first time to hold a performance of this band of murder convicts, we were hesitant. But we went ahead and loved every bit of it. They create a completely different environment with their performance.”
