Prakash was a music maverick & a mentor. He met us (Ved Nair & myself) in early ninties when we were looking for an ideal studio to record our debut Pop album "Yaron Ki Mehfil" By the band "Stormy Stars" (Ya Indi Pop was just popping its head & evolving). A new music company had signed a deal with us. Music Producers Sudhanshuji & K. Sen gave us liberty to record the album wherever we may prefer. It was a great moment when Prakash heard all our songs & remarked that it has the spark of Bob Dylan’s John Wesley Harding. His kind words & support reaffirmed our faith in music, lyric & creative pursuits. I still remember Milind Raikar’s heart warming violin solos, guitar riffs & melodious compositions by Ved Nair recorded by non other than Prakash. It was a soulful love song about an impossible love story “Wohh Toh Koi Bholi Bhali ”. Those were the best things of our life.
Those were the days my friend when life was a techni-colour musical dream & living was lyrical. We took Prakash’s words as a compliment & moved on. Prakash remained a mentor to many like us ,who were trying to explore a road less travelled. He hated Hindi Film Music of decadent era(80s-90s). His studio Sound company was home to Mumbai’s Jazz ,Rock, Ad & Alternative Film community. His album “Hard Notes ,Loose Change” is a living testimony of his brilliance , he worked on films, television & music scene with equal ease but his first love remained Jazz…I fondly remember his love, affection, kindness & greatness. With attitude of gratitude I sing a little prayer for Prakash with a warm guitar riff & grand piano sweep. May his soul liberate for an onward journey.
( Anant Joshi was the founder member/songwriter of the 90's indie-pop band " Stormy Stars ", After a brief stint in broadcasting and journalism he is now a writer-director for films , Ad-films and other visual-media)
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