34 years later, ‘Holud Pakhi’ gets a Gen Z twist as 40 students recreate Cactus’ cult anthem

Kolkata/IBNS: A musical journey that begins with a song can sometimes continue across generations, finding new listeners and new voices along the way. For Cactus, that journey reached another milestone as the iconic Bengali rock band celebrated its 34th anniversary, marking the occasion with a special recreation of its cult song ‘Holud Pakhi’ featuring 40 students of PB Academic School.

IBNS • 1 Sept 2026, 08:30 am

Reflecting on the band's journey, the members spoke about reaching the milestone without having initially imagined that the musical journey would continue for so many years. The birth anniversary celebration was made particularly special by the participation of the students, who recreated ‘Holud Pakhi’ as part of the occasion.

Lead band singer, Siddhartha Sankar Ray (Sidhu), said, "It has been a long journey. When I started this journey, I had no idea that it would be this long. But as time passed, we achieved many milestones."

The idea came from the school, which had planned to use ‘Holud Pakhi’ as the opening song for its annual concert. With 40 students coming together for the recreation, the band members also joined them as part of the song and its accompanying video.

Band guitarist Boidurjyo Chowdhury said, "Holud Pakhi has become a legendary hit song and I think for the last 34 years, how a song comes to be known as a legendary song is a journey in itself. I'm really happy to be a part of this celebration."

The students' connection with the song became a source of particular satisfaction for the band. Having the younger generation sing and recreate a song that has remained associated with Cactus for decades offered the members a glimpse of how ‘Holud Pakhi’ continues to travel beyond its original generation of listeners.

"40 students have recreated Holud Pakhi, and it has become an anthemic song. I think that is a big achievement for the band," band guitarist Samrat Banerjee added.

The band also reflected on the response from younger audiences, particularly Gen Z, who continue to connect with its music and soundscape.

Over the years, Cactus' sound has evolved, allowing its music to remain relevant to newer listeners while retaining the identity that has defined the band.

As Cactus marks 34 years, the recreation of ‘Holud Pakhi’ by 40 students stands as another chapter in the song's journey, bringing together the band's legacy and a new generation of voices.

(Reporting by Aaheli Chakraborty, Photos by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)