While all of us go gaga over international musical artists and groups, we tend to forget the immensely talented ones closer to our soil. Mohiner Ghoraguli (translated as Mohin's Horses) is surely one of those musical groups that had heralded a new beginning in Bengali music by breaking all established musical themes. For ardent music lovers, this name would definitely not be a new one. Mohiner Ghoraguli was an independent music group of Calcutta that was established in the 1970s. The most striking feature of their music was their versatility. It is almost impossible to categtorise their music into one specific genre.

However, during their active years, the Group did not manage to earn much recognition. The reason? The Group emerged at a period when Bengali music was stagnated. But the dominance of the Bengali film songs could not take music that was new, radical and that broke all barriers. The Group incorporated several genres of music within it- from Baul to Rock. Gautam Chattopadhyay, the leader of the Group and inspiration for all other Bengali musical groups, came up with lyrics and composition that were more of a rebel. The songs of the Group had a personal yet social tone. Many of their songs are a reminiscence of Bob Dylan and John Denver. Without any exaggeration it can be said that the Group was decades ahead of its times. The then milieu could not grasp the mettle of Mohiner Ghoraguli.

The 1970s were the heydays of classic Bengali singers like Shyamal Mitra and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. At that time the Group could not achieve what it deserved. The maverick Group did not get much prominence as the songs were not only about love; the songs dealt with mundane topics such as politics, poverty, technology and even prostitution. Many say that the Group's songs had the elements of Jibonmukhi Gaan (songs of ordinary life) that became famous two decades later thanks to the likes of Kabir Suman.

It was only in the mid nineties that the Group received recognition after the release of the album Abar Bochor Kuri Pore (Again After Twenty Years). Ever since then, the Group became the unquestioned pioneers of Bengali musical bands. The most amazing aspect of their songs is that even after three decades, their songs seem so contemporary. All the credits go to the music and the lyrics. Their signature song Prithibita Naki depicts the invasion of technology through the growing popularity of television. The fact that its Hindi version, Bheegi Bheegi Si Hai Raatein (popularised by Pritam in the movie Gangster), became one of the most popular songs of 2006 is a proof contemporary nature of this song. Bhalobashi Jyotsnaye (with lyrics that are immensely pastoral in nature) is also another popular song that serves as a tribute to Bengal's countryside. It is indeed one of those rare versatile bands that could do equal justice in depicting the beauty of rural Bengal as well as in portraying the advent of technology.

Even after so many years of inception, the Horses are still galloping with equal vigour and zeal. And why they called themselves Mohiner Ghoraguli is another story.