On Tuesday we reported about a likely MySpace India launch this week and yes, the Web site did launch its India chapter yesterday, along with a rock show featuring Pentagram, Super Fuzz, Them Clones, and a post-launch party featuring the Raghu Dixit Project, Shaair and Func, and Swarathma. Few might know the Web site has been in live beta since January this year.

"MySpace is a place for creative people to express themselves and to find their fire," said Tarun Tripathi, director (marketing and content) of MySpace India at the launch. MySpace coming to India is part of the Web site's globalization drive to get a feel of local cultures across the globe and get them all on one global platform. Besides, the site is looking to expand itself in the face of severe competition from the likes of Facebook and Orkut, of which the latter is extremely popular in India. Word is out that Orkut is soon to add 'Orkut Apps' to let its users upload music and videos and showcase their talent -- a la MySpace. Maybe, the timing of the MySpace India launch couldn't have been better.

"We're not tackling Orkut, we're not tackling Facebook, MySpace is supporting content in India, and that's what we are about, we're just going to do our own thing as we very strongly believe in it," said Tripathi on the competition. On positioning vis- -vis other social networking Web sites, he said, "MySpace has become famous for music but there is no reason why the same platform cannot be used for any person who is creative be it a writer, filmmaker, musician, or designer. Anybody who has anything to say can say it through MySpace." However the musical inclination made doing a rock show the perfect fit, according to Tripathi, besides showcasing some kick-ass Indian music.

For those with a ear for concerts, there's many more coming all over the country in the next 45 days. Yesterday's concert was apparently shot for a show on 'Zee Cafe' called 'The Gig'. Also on the cards is a developer 'hackathon and platform workshop' to be held on April 21 at Bangalore wherein developers will be inspired to create hip and fun applications for MySpace India.