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Indian Ocean Brings Fusion Rock to Bengaluru This November
Experience Indian Ocean Bengaluru live at Phoenix Marketcity with iconic fusion rock, classic songs, and an unforgettable concert experience.
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For more than three decades, Indian Ocean has occupied a space in Indian music that no other band has quite managed to replicate. Blending Indian classical traditions with rock, folk, jazz and world music influences, the New Delhi-born group helped create an entirely new genre in India long before indie music became mainstream.
Now, Bengaluru audiences will get the chance to experience that sound live when Indian Ocean performs at Phoenix Marketcity on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Whether you've followed the band since the days of ‘Kandisa’ or recently discovered their music through songs like ‘Bandeh’ and ‘Ma Rewa’, this promises to be one of the city's most rewarding live music experiences of the year.
Why Indian Ocean remains one of India's most important bands
To understand why an Indian Ocean concert still draws devoted audiences after more than 35 years, you need to understand the role the band played in shaping modern Indian music.
Formed in New Delhi in 1990, Indian Ocean emerged at a time when India's independent music scene barely existed. While mainstream audiences were focused on film music, the band was experimenting with something entirely different.
Their sound combined:
- Indian classical melodies
- Folk traditions from across the subcontinent
- Progressive rock structures
- Jazz improvisation
- Socially conscious songwriting
The result was a style that felt unmistakably Indian while remaining deeply contemporary. Today, Indian Ocean is widely recognised as the pioneer of Indian fusion rock and one of the country's most influential independent bands.
The story behind Indian Ocean
Over the years, Indian Ocean has evolved through several line-up changes while maintaining the musical identity that made them famous. The classic lineup featured:
- Rahul Ram
- Susmit Sen
- Asheem Chakravarty
- Amit Kilam
The band's journey has also included moments of profound loss. Founding member and tabla virtuoso Asheem Chakravarty passed away in 2009, a loss that deeply affected both the band and its fans.
Following guitarist Susmit Sen's departure in 2013, guitarist Nikhil Rao joined the group and became an important part of the band's next chapter.
The current lineup includes Rahul Ram, Amit Kilam, Nikhil Rao, Himanshu Joshi and Tuheen Chakravorty.
Through every transition, Indian Ocean has remained committed to creating music that prioritises substance, musicianship and experimentation over trends.
The albums that defined Indian Ocean’s career
Indian Ocean’s self-titled debut album, released in 1993, became the highest-selling album by an Indian band at the time. Since then, the band has built an impressive body of work that includes:
- Indian Ocean (1993): The groundbreaking debut that introduced audiences to the band's distinctive fusion sound.
- Desert Rain (1997): A live album that became an underground favourite and expanded the band's reach beyond Delhi's independent music scene.
- Kandisa (2000): Widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian albums ever recorded. Even today, many fans consider it the definitive Indian Ocean release.
- Jhini (2003): An ambitious and atmospheric album inspired by the poetry of Kabir and India's spiritual traditions.
- 16/330 Khajoor Road (2010): An experimental release that pushed the band's folk-rock identity into new territory.
- Tandanu (2014): The first studio album released after major lineup changes, showcasing the band's continued evolution.
Tips for making the most of the concert
- Arrive before 5:30 PM if possible. The mall gets busy on weekends and you'll want enough time to enter comfortably before the performance begins.
- If you're unfamiliar with Indian Ocean's catalogue, spend some time listening to ‘Kandisa’, ‘Ma Rewa’, ‘Hille Re’, ‘Bandeh’ and ‘Jhini’ beforehand. The live versions become even more powerful when you already know the songs.
- Plan for a longer evening than you might expect. Indian Ocean concerts frequently run between 90 minutes and two hours, especially when extended improvisations take centre stage.
- And most importantly, don't expect a conventional rock concert. This is a band that treats live performance as exploration where no two sessions are the same.
Key details
Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Phoenix Marketcity, Whitefield
Price: ₹799 onwards
Nearest Metro: Singayyanapalya Station (Purple Line)
Genre: Indian Fusion Rock
Tickets: Click here to book
Indian Ocean isn't simply performing songs that defined Indian fusion rock. They're performing the music that helped create the genre itself.
If you've never seen them live before, this is the perfect opportunity to understand why they remain one of the most respected bands in Indian music.
Bengaluru
Indian Ocean At Phoenix Marketcity - Bengaluru
₹799
