Cactus (Indian band)
Cactus is an Indian Bengali rock band from Kolkata, formed in 1992. They were one of the first professional Bangla rock bands and helped popularize Bengali-language rock music. The name “Cactus” was chosen because, at the time, the music scene in Bengal felt lifeless like a desert.
The band’s influences include Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Iron Maiden. Over the years, Cactus released six studio albums and played more than 2,500 concerts in India and abroad. Their debut, Cactus (1999), featured a bluesy, psychedelic rock sound. In 2002 they scored the Bengali film Nil Nirjane, and the song “Mon” became very popular (a Hindi version was used as the intro for Love Story on SAB TV).
Their 2004 album Rajar Raja introduced new sounds, mixing classic rock with funk, blues, and folk flavors. Tuccho (2008) leaned harder into rock and included hits like “Bhalo Theko” and “Rater Pari.” Blah Blah Blah (2013) featured remastered versions of earlier songs along with new tracks. From 2017 to 2019 they released Tobuo Thik Acche, moving toward a faster rock-and-roll style.
The band has undergone many lineup changes, but singer Sidhu Ray has been a constant member. The current lineup includes Sidhu Ray (vocals), Abhijit Barman (vocals), Boidurjyo Chowdhury (guitar), Samrat Banerjee (guitar), Sayantan Chatterjee (keyboard), Proshanto Mahato (bass), and Arnab Tabla Dasgupta (drums).
Cactus has worked with labels such as Saregama India Limited, Sunnyo Media Pvt. Ltd., and Asha Audio. After a break around 2020, they resumed activity in 2021 and continue to perform.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:18 (CET).