Not many debut music videos are as gripping as that of Mumbai-based alternative rock band The Yellow Diary. Titled Marz, it shows the dilemma faced by a child suicide bomber who has set up to blow herself up at a fair, and ends with a pulsating climax. Since its release last month, viewers have been raving about the video and song alike, with many mainly praising its refreshing sound. Vaibhav Pani, guitarist, says, “Marz was written by lead vocalist Rajan Batra in 2015, and was the song that brought the band together. We had then put a small audio version of the song, and that’s what got us the initial acclaim and caught the attention of Sony Music (who later took the band under their label).”
As real as it gets
The video has been directed by Mumbai-based Maanavi Bedi, who has been assistant director of movies like Hrithik Roshan-starrer Mohenjo Daro and Phantom, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif. Her last Bollywood project was Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyyaary, with Sidharth Malhotra in the lead. “The whole concept of Marz’s video was hers,” shares Himonshu Parikh, their keyboardist. “We discussed various ideas for days, but when she pitched the idea that was finalised, we were absolutely convinced,” they add, admitting that when the song was written, they never imagined the final video would be as bold as how it turned out. “The song delves into the common problem of the dilemma between the mind and the heart, so it can be interpreted in multiple ways. But the bold nature of the concept perfectly suits the heavy and intense vibe of the song,” they further explain.
Stage is set
Going back to the days when the band was formed, Himonshu tells us how he and Rajan first started working together. “He told me about Marz, and asked if we could work on it together. Our styles are different — mine is more electronic, his is more raw and leaning towards folk — but we shared the same wavelength,” he says. The band, completed by bassist Stuart DaCosta and drummer Sahil Shah, has two more songs, Afzai and Kashmir, lined up for release. “There are no music videos for these songs. Instead, these will be launched as lyric videos,” says Himonshu. They are currently touring the country, and have performed in Delhi and Chandigarh so far. “We will be hitting Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad this month, while the Chennai dates will be announced soon on social media,” he informs.
Listen to Marz on YouTube.