Indian Ocean parts ways with its string guru

KOLKATA: India's top folk-fusion band Indian Ocean on Wednesday officially announced that Susmit Sen, who revolutionized Indian guitar-playing with his unique style, has quit to pursue his own brand of music. Band percussionist AmitKilam said the parting was "gradual and amicable".
Susmit has a huge fan base as well as close family members - cousins and 'chotomama' at Jadavpur and Joka - in Kolkata.He "has decided to hand over his legacy to a younger guitar player and move on", the band said in a statement to the media. Susmit, along with vocalist Asheem Chakravarty, had founded Indian Ocean in 1990. Asheem passed away on a Christmas day four years ago.
"This is not a sudden decision and preparations were on for the last six to eight months. We had decided to include another guitar player who would eventually take over. It's the Indian Ocean moving on," Kilam said.
Susmit said: "Right now, I am at my creative best. Indian Ocean is a sound and style we created. After more than 27 years of playing the guitar, I feel that I am brimming with more compositions, more music - but in a grammar and style different from that of Indian Ocean. I strongly believe my moving on will be beneficial for both the band and my creative expression."
Six-string talent Nikhil Rao is set to step into Susmit's shoes. Susmit said: "Nikhil is a promising young guitar player with a lot of Indian-ness in his playing. He will be able to give a lot of impetus to Indian Ocean." Amit echoed him: "The sound will not change drastically. We will still be a folk-fusion band. Nikhil will be a value-addition, he has a nice Carnatic touch to his playing and the band is looking forward to some changes."
Indian Ocean, possibly the country's most popular music outfit, is hailed for their OST in 'Black Friday', and celebrated for their innovative brand of Indian music. Their docu-film 'Leaving Home' by Jaideep Varma had won the National Award in 2011.