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Reverted 1 edit by GoromKhunti (talk): Unsourced changes

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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = CACTUS
| image = Cactus Photoshoot.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Cactus photoshoot in [[Kolkata]]
| alias =
| origin = [[Kolkata]], West Bengal, India
| genre = [[Rock music of West Bengal|Bengali rock]]
| years_active = 1992–2019, 2021—Present
| label = [[Sa Re Ga Ma]] India Limited Sunnyo Media Pvt. Ltd. Asha Audio
| associated_acts =
| current_members = Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [[vocals]] Abhijit barman pata [[vocals]] Boidurjo Chowdhury [[guitar]] Samrat Mukherjee [[guitar]] Sayantan Chatterjee [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]
 Prasanto Mahato [[Bass guitar|Bass]] Arnab Tabla Dasgupta [[drums]]
| past_members = Sanjay [[guitar]] Sukanti [[guitar]] Kanishka (Pinky) [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] Shubayan [[Bass guitar|bass]] Rajesh [[Voice|vox]] Sayak [[Voice|vox]] Indra [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] Allan [[guitar]] Sandip Roy [[Bass guitar|bass]] Abhirup Biswas [[guitar]] Subhajit Bhowmick [[bass guitar|bass]] Saqi [[vocals]] Shibaji Baji Paul [[drums]] Sudipto Buti Banerjee [[keyboard instrument|keyboard]]
| image_upright =
}}
'''Cactus''' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: ক্যাকটাস) is an Indian [[Rock music of West Bengal|Bengali rock]] band from [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. Since inception they have recorded four full-length studio albums and have performed over 2500 concerts across India & abroad.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/680718/this-puja-seasons-top-five-bengali-rock-bands|title=This Puja season's top five Bengali rock bands|author=Scroll Staff|work=Scroll.in|access-date=2018-11-21|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
In the early nineties, the average Bengali youth was restless with the farcical social – political system, the apprehensions
of globalization and a sense of alienation. In 1990, the music scene in Bengal was a complete contrast to the present one.

Moreover, the average Bengali was not used to the idea of Bangla rock. A very small percentage of the mass would listen to rock music which was essentially in the English language. There was also a severe lack of identification with the local music culture which was only doing English rock music. This led to a sense of dissatisfaction, leaving the youth disoriented and confused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.merinews.com/article/cactus-catered-to-thirsting-bengali-youth/123264.shtml|title=Cactus catered to thirsting Bengali youth|website=www.merinews.com|access-date=2018-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121204227/http://www.merinews.com/article/cactus-catered-to-thirsting-bengali-youth/123264.shtml|archive-date=21 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The band name "CACTUS" was derived "from the fact that the music scene was then devoid of life as in a desert".

Cactus was formed in 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/music/who-really-owns-bangla-rock/articleshow/60218976.cms|title=Who really owns Bangla rock? - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/kolkata/cactus-celebrates-23rd-birthday/Gabu-Prosen-and-Satadal-during-the-23rd-birthday-celebrations/articleshow/48789633.cms|title=Gabu, Prosen and Satadal during the 23rd birthday celebrations|website=photogallery.indiatimes.com|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref> The band has named the likes of [[Deep Purple]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Iron Maiden]] and many others as their inspiration. Cactus is one of the first professional Bangla rock bands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/cactus-set-to-bloom-in-dubai-1.2238981|title=Cactus set to bloom in Dubai|access-date=2018-11-21|language=en}}</ref>

The professional debut of the band occurred on 6 March 1993 at Aban Mahal (CLT), Kolkata. Cactus have had several line-up changes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=45&nID=129173|title=Bartaman Patrika|last=Department:info@bartamanpatrika.com|first=News|website=www.bartamanpatrika.com|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/Pota-no-more-a-part-of-Cactus/articleshow/20507234.cms|title=Pota no more a part of Cactus? - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref>

===Early years and self-titled debut album (1992–1999)===
The self-titled debut album, released in 1999 from HMV, became a rage with a touch of blues and psychedelic rock. With numbers like ''Brishti, oooh Ma!'' and ''Icchamati'' this album portrayed psychedelia in Bengali music for the first time. ''Halud pakhi'', on the other hand created a long lasting sensation in the contemporary Bengali music scene with its nostalgic feel being perfectly accompanied by ''Shudhu Tumi Ele Na'' and ''Amra Bhishon Eka'' complementing the overall mood of the album.<ref>{{cite news |title=A rocking time was had by all |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060118/asp/careergraph/story_5731641.asp |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|date=18 January 2006 |location=Calcutta, India}}</ref> They tasted some success when their first self-titled album was released in 1999 by HMV.

Line up – Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Sanjay [guitar], Kanishka (Pinky) Sarkar [keyboard],Shubayan Ganguly [bass], Rajesh Lahiri [vocal]

===Films: Nil Nirjane (2001–2002)===
In 2002, Cactus composed and performed the score for the Bengali movie [[Nil Nirjane]].<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120625/jsp/entertainment/story_15652593.jsp#.UCe5DKNQDIU Cactus on screen, 10 years after Nil Nirjane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608070124/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120625/jsp/entertainment/story_15652593.jsp#.UCe5DKNQDIU |date=8 June 2013 }} ''telegraphindia.com''. Published 25 June 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012</ref> The song "Mon" from the soundtrack became extremely popular and is still a crowd favourite. A Hindi version of the song was used as the intro song for [[Love Story (SAB TV series)|Love Story]], a TV series in [[SAB TV]].

Line up – Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Sanjay Bhattacharya [guitar], Kanishka (Pinky) Sarkar [keyboard], Shubayan Ganguly [bass], Abhijit Barman (Pota) [vocal]

===''Rajar Raja'' (2002–2004)===

The band released its second album titled 'Rajar Raja' in 2004. The band with this album moved ahead and incorporated new sounds. Different genres of music were experimented within the album. Buddho Heshechhen and Lash Kata Ghore being examples of classic rock, flirting with folk rock in 'Bodhu re', while Rajar Raja portrays influences from funk rock. Though this album had new sounds, the nostalgic quotient was very much there with songs like Udaaner Gaan, Krishti, Ude Jete Chay and Kamalar Swami representing blues and the psychedelic facet of the band sound.<ref>{{cite news |title=Band with the best |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071002/asp/entertainment/story_8386664.asp |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=2 October 2007 |location=Calcutta, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rajar Raja |url=http://blog.onenall.com/2008/12/rajar-raja-cactus-2/ |website=blog.onenall.com|date=17 December 2008}}</ref>

Line up – Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Sanjay Bhattacharya [guitar], Kanishka (Pinky) Sarkar [keyboard],Sandip Roy [bass], Abhijit Barman (Pota)[vocal]

===''Tuchho'' (2004–2008)===
The band released its third album, ''Tuccho'', in 2008. The band with this album moved ahead and has incorporated new sounds. Different genres of music were being experimented with in the album. Traces of [[hard rock]] was clearly visible. They were then featured in the [[Rock Street Journal]]'s February 2009 issue. Tuccho contained the hits "Bhalo Theko" and "Rater Pari".

line up – Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Allan Ao [guitar], Sudipto Banerjee [keyboard],Sandip Roy [bass], Sayak Bandyopadhay [vocals]

===''Blah Blah Blah'' (2013)===
''Blah Blah Blah'' was their fourth album. It was considered a very experimental album for them. Asha Audio produced the album and it was published on 3 October 2013.

line up – Sidhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Ritaprabha "Ratul" Ray [guitar], Sudipto Banerjee [keyboard], Sandip Roy [bass], Dibyendu Mukherjee [vocal]

===''Tobuo Thik Acche'' (2017-2019)===

In 2017, Abhijit Barman (Pota) left the band due to differences in opinion.<ref name=":0" /> By then the band had already started working on their next album ''Tobuo Thik Acche''. They had to rework some of the tracks. Finally, the songs were published as musical videos on their official YouTube channel from 2017 to 2019.

line up- Siddhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray [vocals], Sibaji "Baji" Paul [drums], Ritaprabha "Ratul" Ray [guitar], Sudipto "Buti" Banerjee [keyboard], Mainak "Bumpy" Nag Chowdhury, Dibyendu Mukherjee [vocal]

===Cactuss ( 2021–present)===
In 2021, Abhijit Barman (Pota) rejoined Cactus. Sibaji "Baji" Paul, one of the oldest members of the band left and is being replaced by
Arnab Dasgupta. Due to legal issues with Baji, the name of the band has been changed to "Cactuss".

“''Baji and I are part of a legal agreement that holds Cactus together. The agreement ended yesterday (January 24). Since one year I’ve been constantly asking Baji to discuss the internal matters of Cactus with me, but it never worked out. Finally, I had to send out a legal notice to him. I really don’t want to get into any tiff with anyone and definitely doesn't want to blame anybody. I just want to continue with our songs. Our band wasn’t performing together for many months, and that is not a good sign. It is an emotional part of my life that I cannot let go.''” as said by Sidhu.
Besides Sidhu and Pata, the new line-up will also feature Prasanto on the bass, Arnab Dasgipta on the drums and Sayantan on the keyboard, and Samrat and Boidurjo on the guitars.

==Musical style and influences==
The self-titled album and the two later albums combine [[soft rock]], [[blues]] and [[psychedelic rock]]. But their last album ''Tuchho'' which was known to be the best selling album produced by them had the traces of [[hard rock]] although two songs ''Bhalo Theko'' and ''Shabdhane Raasta Perio'' were more like [[soft rock]]. With their latest album ''Tobuo Thik Acche'' they have shifted to [[rock n' roll]] genre with up-tempo songs.

==Band members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Current members:
* Siddhartha Sankar "Sidhu" Ray – vocal, from inception
* Abhijit "Pata" Barman - vocal
* Boidurjyo Chowdhury – guitar
* Samrat Banerjee – guitar
* Sayantan Chatterjee – keyboard
* Prasanto Mahato – bass
* Arnab "Tabla" Dasgupta – drums
<ref>https://khaskhobor.com/blog/2021/01/25/new-cactuss-is-coming-with-sidhu-pota-bonding/</ref>
<ref>https://www.facebook.com/Bongnews24x7/posts/1052953298528884</ref>
<ref>https://bangla.aajtak.in/cinema-and-tv-serial-news/tollywood-bengali-cinema/story/bangla-band-cactus-returns-sidhu-pota-reunion-and-other-new-members-good-news-music-lovers-261183-2021-01-25</ref>
<ref>Bit.ly/3o8Awzy</ref>
{{col-2}}
;Former members
* Mainak "Bumpy" Nag Chowdhury – bass
* Sanjay – guitar
* Kanishka (Pinky) – keyboard
* Shubayan – bass
* Rajesh – vocals
* Sayak – vocals
* Allan – guitar
* Sandip Roy – bass
* Shibaji "Baji" paul - drums
* Dibyendu (Dibs) - vocal
* Ritaprabha (Ratul) - guitar
* Sudipto "Buti" Banerjee - keyboard
* Saqi - vocal
* Abhirup Biswas - Guitar
* Subhajit Bhowmick - Bass{{col-end}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anandalok|url=https://www.anandalok.in/storydetails?catid=33228&link=80224|access-date=2021-01-26|website=www.anandalok.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sidhu regroups Cactus: Pata in, Baji out - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/music/sidhu-regroups-cactus-pata-in-baji-out/articleshow/80438495.cms|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = BengaliMusicOnline.com
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} 
}}

{{Infobox album
| italic_title = no
| name = ''Tuccho''
| type = studio
| artist = Cactus
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2008
| recorded = 2008
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Rock music of West Bengal|Bengali rock]]
| length = 26:00
| label = Asha Audio
| producer = Cactus
| chronology = Cactus studio album
| prev_title = Rajar Raja
| prev_year =
| next_title = Unknown
| next_year =
}}

'''Cactus (1999)''' ([[Saregama]] India Limited)
;Tracks
* "Shudhu Tumi Ele Na" (শুধু তুমি এলে না)
* "Amra Bhishon Eka" (আমরা ভীষণ একা)
* "Halogen" (হ্যালোজেন)
* "Tumio Bojho Amio Bujhi" (তুমিও বোঝো আমিও বুঝি)
* "Icchamoti" (ইছামতী)
* "Brishti Oooh Ma" (বৃষ্টি উঃ মা)
* "Bhoy" (ভয়)
* "Chai Shudhu Tomay" (চাই শুধু তোমায়)
* "Holud Pakhi" (হলুদ পাখি)

'''Nil Nirjane (2002)''' (Sunnyo Media Pvt. Ltd)
;Tracks
* "Nil Nirjane" (নীল নির্জনে)
* "Noah" (নোয়া)
* "Telephone" (টেলিফোন)
* "Mon" (মন)
* "Dukho Medley (1st)" (দুঃখ মেডলি)
* "Medley (2nd)" (মেডলি)
* "Nil Nirjane – Music Track" (নীল নির্জনে – সংগীত)
* "Dialogue – Cactus and Raima" (সংলাপ – ক্যাকটাস ও রাইমা)

'''Rajar Raja (2004)''' (Asha Audio Company)
;Tracks
* "Buddho Heshechhen" (বুদ্ধ হেসেছেন)
* "Udaaner Gaan" (উড়ানের গান)
* "Bodhu Re" (বধু রে)
* "Ude Jete Chay" (উড়ে যেতে চায়)
* "Lash Kata Ghore" (লাশ কাটা ঘরে)
* "Krishti" (কৃষ্টি)
* "Kamalar Swami" (কমলার স্বামী)
* "Rajar Raja" (রাজার রাজা)

'''Tuccho (2008)''' (Asha Audio Company)
;Tracks
* "Bhalo Theko" (ভালো থেকো)
* "Kobi Dao – Kobita Hobo" (কবি দাও)
* "Moshiha" (মসীহা)
* "Phire Chawa" (ফিরে চাওয়া)
* "Pokhiraaj" (পক্ষীরাজ)
* "Raater Pori" (রাতের পরী)
* "Tuccho Ami" (তুচ্ছ আমি)
* "Shabdhane Raasta Perio" (সাবধানে রাস্তা পেরিয়ো)

'''Blah Blah Blah (2013)'''<ref>http://www.saavn.com/s/song/bengali/Blah_Blah_Blah</ref> (Asha Audio Company)
;Tracks
* "Blah Blah Blah"
* "Dulchhe"
* "Boro Deri"
* "Mon"
* "Status Update"
* "Noah"
* "Shohoj"
* "Nil Nirjone"

'''Tobuo Thik Acche (2017-2019)''' ( Asha Audio Company)
;Tracks
* "Tobuo Thik Acche"
* "Jawler Dhaarey"
* "Nagorik Botaam"
* "Amra Ajo Naroke"

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20191124050619/http://www.cactusmusic.com/ Official Website]
* [https://twitter.com/holudpaakhi/ Official Twitter Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/cactus92/ Official Myspace Profile]
*[https://www.facebook.com/cactusmusicofficial/ Official Facebook Page]
*[https://m.youtube.com/c/Cactusbanglarock/ Official YouTube account]

{{Bengali bands}}

[[Category:Bengali music]]
[[Category:Indian rock music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]]
[[Category:Culture of Kolkata]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:Bengali musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2019]]

Cactus (Indian band) - Revision history

>10mmsocket: Reverted 1 edit by GoromKhunti (talk): Unsourced changes