Agosh: India's First Major Pop-Punk Band

In November 1998 The offspring released their fifth album Americana which contained the hit song “Pretty fly for a white guy”. The song did surprisingly very well in India as well, it was broadcast multiple times throughout the day on both MTV and channel V and was even mentioned in an ad for one of the V’s programs where they were described as “one of the coolest bands man!"

It was safe to say that The Offspring had taken over, making them one of the first punk bands to Crossover into the mainstream in the country. While there was an audience for Rock, Punk never found its footing here, but with The Offspring’s success, the future for punk looked bright. However, while the genre was at its peak in the following years with the term “pop punk” officially being coined for Blink 182, Sum41 and of course The Offspring, it really fizzled out in India with the audiences moving to more conventional pop like NSYNC and Britney spears, until five years later.

The year was 2002, Agosh a relatively new band with Gopal Rao on Vocals, R.Anandh on guitars, and Shaleen Sharma on drums had just released their new song “Paisa”. Although relatively unknown the trio was well versed with the music industry. Formed in 1994, the band has made several ad jingles for brands like Pepsi, Fanta, Nestle, Munch, and Ponds, while also working on major projects like the song “Main Kudi Anjani hoon” from the Sunny Deol film Zor and “O Yaara re” for the 1999 ICC cricket world cup.

Paisa was their first foray into making independent music, or “indipop” as it was known at the time. The song was well received by critics often being called “fresh” and “unique”. Perhaps what made “Paisa” so unique was how it sounded so much like Pop Punk. Everything from the simple four-chord guitar riffs to the catchy vocal melodies and silly, playful lyrics about one man's dreams and failed attempts to try and get filthy rich.

Blended together with Bollywood and Qawwali made it the perfect mix of east and west. Even the music video fit perfectly with the mood of the song. A funny light-hearted video that parodied the Things” and Alien Ant Farm did with “Movies” (even though they were parodying 80’s Hollywood here) in the west. There was nothing quite like it at the time and there still isn’t today. It was truly one of a kind.

Unfortunately, however, the band quickly faded away after receiving some moderate success, as the audiences moved away to remixes and Bollywood, abandoning Agosh the same way they abandoned Pop Punk, however they are still remembered fondly by many of their fans, who still think that their music was way ahead of its time. Even though they were around for only a short period of time, they definitely have an important place in the history of contemporary Indian music.

Read more: The Punks of India