Meghalaya musician’s sonorous voice resonates in Assamese film
ANDREW W. LYNGDOH
Lou Majaw records a song at the studio on Monday.
Shillong, Sept. 25 : It is an Assamese song with a Khasi touch to promote social harmony among the inhabitants of the Northeast.
For the first time in his glittering career, the unassuming legend, Lou Majaw, today lent his voice to a song, Hengulia akaxot xurujor khela (the sun’s games on a vermilion sky), in an upcoming Assamese film, Xurjyasta.
Much like the legendary Bhupen Hazarika, who had sung Shillongore Monalisa Lyngdoh in
his heydays where the pronunciation for Monalisa Lyngdoh was loaded
with an Assamese twang, one could hear the Khasi touch to Hengulia akaxot xurujor khela when Majaw’s voice resonated in the recording studio at Nongrimmaw locality in Laitumkhrah here this afternoon.
“The pronunciation of the words is indeed
difficult since I am not used to singing in Assamese. At the same time, I
added a Khasi twang to the song. I wanted to sing in Assamese like a
Khasi,” Majaw, who had an Assamese gamosa flowing down his shoulders, told this correspondent while taking a break from the recording.
Perhaps the essence of the whole project lies in the “originality” of the people of the region.
“If we had wanted the song to be sung the
Assamese way, we could have taken somebody from Assam. But we
deliberately chose the accomplished Majaw, who would add a Khasi touch
to the film. After all, the film is about promoting harmony among people
living in this region,” the film’s music director, Kishore Giri, said.
Dwelling on harmony, Majaw recalled the
fifties, sixties and seventies when all and sundry irrespective of their
identity coexisted in perfect harmony.
“We are seeing a lot of rift these days.
Earlier, the scenario was different,” he recounted, while pointing out
to some Assam-type houses located within the vicinity of the studio,
which, he said, were once inhabited by Assamese and Bengalis.
Citing the boundary dispute between
Meghalaya and Assam as an example, Majaw said compromise from both sides
was required to ensure harmony.
“If the people of Meghalaya move one step
ahead from the boundary line, Assam should move two steps back, and
vice-versa. Compromise is the key to attain harmony,” he added.
At the same time, the renowned vocalist said Assam, “as a mother state, should have a wide sense of understanding”.
On an optimistic note, he said “music”, which has no barrier, can usher in “peace and harmony”.
“This is the first of its kind project
that I have undertaken. I have received a lot of offers to sing in
Assamese but I had rejected those. I hope the project bears fruits, good
fruits,” Majaw said before hurtling back to the studio to complete the
recording.