E-Pao: It is indeed a great pleasure to get such
an opportunity to talk to Ichemma. Ichemma, could you kindly please tell us when did you
start singing? And how did you start grooming your talent?
Mema: I started singing at the age of six following my elder
sister Smt. Asem Bimala Devi who was already in the limelight of singing profession. I
spent my early days of learning music and dance in Bhatkhande College of Hindusthani Music
at Lucknow where I got Nritya Visharad in Kathak and Sangeet Visharad. From AIR, Ahmedebad
I passed Hindusthani Sugam Sangeet. Later I had the opportunities of learning special
music lessons from Pandit Ratan Jhankar, J.N. Natu, Sidesweri Devi, Dr. K.G. Ginde, Pandit
Jasraj and dance from Vikram Singjee at Lucknow.
E-Pao: You really had such a good exposure with many of the great artists of India. But
was there any problem when you chose this line of profession in your early days? And how
did you manage to come such a long way successfully?
Mema: No. There was no problem as such. But I think in
those days people didn't like women to go out for drama/plays and other singing programs.
So in some way that was partly a reason for me to follow the classical Hindusthani. Hard
work and sincere devotion-to-work pays.
E-Pao: What could be the most turning point in your career? Who influenced you the
most?
Mema: While I was in Lucknow as a Visharad student, I got
1st Class 1st and I happened to be first person to get a 1st Division after many years.
That was a moment where I felt that I had potential to achieve something. My mother and
sister brought me up with complete support and later my husband had given me a lot of
freedom to pursue my career and to fulfil my wishes.
E-Pao: Your first performance in public must still be very vivid in your mind. Can you
share that with us like, when was your first performance and with what song?
Mema: In 1969, as a student I participated the All India Music
Conference organised by All India Radio, Ahmedebad. And it was a very happy moment as the
crowd really enjoyed my songs and cheered me up. I think they didn't quite expect me much
of singing a Hindi song. Perhaps, I could be the first person to sing in Hindi by a
Manipuri in an All India Radio programme.
E-Pao: Nowadays, there has been a lot of influx of Bollywood singers in Manipuri Films
like Udit Narayan or Alka Yagnic singing a Meiteilon number. What do you say about this?
How far it has helped the singing as a profession or culture in Manipur?
Mema: It's okay to make Bollywood singers to sing a
Manipuri film song. The singers also get the opportunity of tuning into Meiteilon. But
ultimately it is the Producer who is going to make money out of it. That's fine as it is
his business. But for singing profession in Manipur as such is not very helpful. One must
not forget the abundant talents we have in Manipur. Well, I believe, it's just the case of
'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence '. Of course one can use it as
a connection if some talented ones want to expose himself/herself to outside world.
E-Pao: It can also be the other way like Ichemma singing Hindi Film Songs. How did you
come to Bombay and how long you have been performing here in Bombay? Also please tell
about your personal experience as a playback singer in other Non-Manipuri Films?
Mema (smiles): Though I came to Bombay as early as in the early
seventies, I never really got settled down. If I had done, I would be able to achieve
something by now. I first came to Mumbai to record a song for "Umangi Mee"
(Karam Manimohan was the financier) where Dara Singh- Padma Sana did the leading roles.
And then I gave a live TV program. I think people really liked the program as I had to
give one more program in folk song. I am talking of my first part in Mumbai in the early
seventies. India Book House, the famous producers of many children comic books including
the Amar Chitra Katha, also produced two cassettes sung by me. In my second part I came to
learn many gharanas (different style of classical singings) of Pandits like Jasraj and
Jhankar. I also did a playback song of the film 'Dillawar' with Suresh Wadeker. I had done
in quite a few non-Manipuri languages like Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Sinhalese
(Sri Lankan).
E-Pao: Is it difficult for a singer from Manipur or NE India to succeed in Indian
cities like Mumbai, I mean, in terms of difference in race, language and accent? How has
the audience reacted so far?
Mema: Though language has been a problem in communicating people
when you come from a different region, music has certainly no barrier. Of course, some
years before people even in the big metropolitan cities like Mumbai, had the perception
that the North-Easterner are the mere rhythm singers with some guitar and all. So once
when I gave an AIR concert, the staff people asked me if some guitar would do. Then I said
to give me the best instruments and artists. Certainly they had a tough time to look for
appropriate artists when I started with a few lines. They were completely astonished to
see a non-Hindusthani face singing a Hindusthani Sangeet.
E-Pao: Is language a hurdle for Manipuris to sing in Hindi or other major Indian
languages? Since Manipur market is small, won't it be wise for our singers to learn to
sing in other languages in addition to Manipuri? Which Indian language is most suitable
more Manipuris (Hindi or another language) other than his/her mother tongue?
Mema: As I said, language has certainly not a barrier at
all. All the great singers have sung in all kinds of languages. So if one really grooms
his/her talent than nobody can deny him/her a place. Manipuris should be able to face the
world outside Manipur. There is no point of remaining the no 1 in a small place. One has
to move around and face all the challenges in life. Personally though I had sung in a
number of languages as I mentioned earlier, Hindi has been my favourite language other
than Manipuri. It depends on the individuals, but Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri are
comfortable ones.
E-Pao: Did you get any encouragement from Indian listeners and singers or do you face
hostility in terms of real politics in the Music world?
Mema: Yes, there has been a lot of encouragement from the
Indian listeners and I think they really like my songs for there have been recordings
specially for the Indian communities residing in different parts of the World. Very soon,
another album in Gujarati is going to come out for the Gujaratis in US. Yes, among the
artists there are jealousy feelings and copyright violations, but this is everywhere in
every field.
E-Pao: Of late, we observe that there has been a trend of new albums the kind of
Hindi-pops that have been floating the market. In Manipur also, people -new singers as
well as old singers- have produced so many albums with a music concert. Is there any basic
difference between singing for an album and singing playback for a movie?
Mema: Quality carries everything.
If there is quality, albums do come out as well. But there are differences between singing
for Filmi song and album ones. The first basic difference is a playback song is always
associated with the story in a movie, while a song in an album has to stand at its own.
The director has the option to choose the singers suitable to the song and if you sing it
is believed to be well fitting to your voice and style. Whereas in an album, you have to
make your own things that will match the lyrics. Of course, nowadays there has a lot of
visual effects in the albums too.
E-Pao: How is your contribution to All India Radio and Doordarshan? Singing in their
studios must be different from the ones in a live concert. How do you enjoy and
distinguish these two?
Mema: I have been giving
programs in both the media centres. As for the AIR, I first gave a program in 1969 at AIR,
Ahmedebad while for the DD, I did in Bombay in 1973. Both the AIR and DD are equally
equipped with good infrastructure. Since DD has the public audience, one has to put up for
facial expression. For me, I used some of the dance techniques to give a good visual
expression.
E-Pao: You have sung in so many styles of music, Sastriya Sangeet, Gazaals, light music
etc. Which style of singing is your favourite?
Mema: Sastriya Sangeet has been my favourite, but it has limited
place.
E-Pao: And any favourite lyrics that you felt heart-content to sing?
Mema: Nungshiba Tambiba Lakpara, Kainaba Meisha Langbar,
...." of M. Medha in Manipuri and "Mei Na Jeeyung Bina Ram Janani,...." of
Tulsi Das in Hindi.
E-Pao: Your contribution in putting up a music institution is quite a contribution to
music lovers and aspiring singers of Manipur. How did you start it? What exactly does it
offer?
Mema: When I passed out from Lucknow, I thought have our people
having a lot of talent but lack the necessary exposure to the formal learning. Then I set
up this institute which is affiliated to the Lucknow College with a great support from my
husband. So far it's reasonably doing well with a regular no. of students passing out with
Visharad degrees. The institution also offers monthly scholarships to a few students.
E-Pao: Now turning to our own Manipuri Adhunik and Music Concerts, I am sure you must
also have performed in several nights and concerts from the early seventies. It would be
interesting to know the condition of the adhunik and popular concerts (like our typical
chak channaraga ishie toubi) prevailing in those days when you started singing in the
public. What do you say of the present days vis-a-vis those days, say the quality of
lyrics, style and influences of the songs?
Mema: Yes, there were music
concerts as there are now. But there used to be many good lyricists who wrote many good
lyrics. Good lyrics and songs can lead people's way of thinking. I am sure some of the
'spoilt' kids can be cleaned through music. In those days, music concerts and nights were
much more seriously attended as not many people did not own music systems, TV and like,
and music were not very commercially marketable as there are now. Some of the good singers
during those days are Bimola, Jaminikanata, Pahari, Tombisana. You know in those days, the
lyrics were the most important criteria. There were good meaningful and more poetic
lyrics. Now there seems to be only for rhythm not for sur as people also go more for pop
kind of music. Not many meaningful songs. Now listen to these songs, you will see the
difference. (She put on the music system and played an old collection of great singers.
Meanwhile we continue our conversation with the beautiful songs in the background. I think
the cassette was a collection of some live concert of the past greats. Believe me, one
really get hypnotised by these great numbers. Some of them are ....
Jaminikanta: "Tanikle Thammoi Ngasigi Ahingse, Thaja Punima Anigi
Kumhmeida,...." Aheibam Budhachandra: "Eigei Punsi Nangga, Kari Thoknei Eiga,
Hundokke Ngamde Puba Ware..."
Asem Bimola: "Chakliba Lammei Athappa Chingda, Mutchakhini Mathannata,....
"
Pahari: "Eidi Eishei Shaklaroi Khallui Yade, haaa, Loiba Leite, Leppa
Naide Eishe...."
Kamala: "Wa Amatta Hangjage Lakpani, Kuiroi Supnatagi Amatangni..."
Laishram Birendrakumar: "Kaonanasiko Nungsibi, Punima Thajagum,
Bidaigi Matam Oirakpada Mitlu Napom Mariksingna..."
Phurailatpam Iboyaima: "Thabal Pharaba Ahingda, Shaminnakhiba
Nungshi Wari Karam Haina Kaorasige..."
Shyam Sharma: "Thaja Mabu Pamjaruba Nongin Magi Maralni,
Nuja Mabu Nungshiruba, Pakhang Eigee Iralni..."
Elangbam Eken: "Eini Twenty First Ki Romeo, Julietti
Phangdare Oigee Lamba Phangdare, Eina Leibada..."
E-Pao: It's a wonderful feeling to listen to all these golden songs -'old is gold'.
Ichemma, how do you see the present Manipuri adhunik or the current feature of the singing
culture?
Mema: There was a bit of Bengali style in the early days of
Manipuri adhunik, and then there was a stage where a bit tinge of classical style was
quite popular. And during last decade, there have been evidences of mingling the western
style and make a pop style.
E-Pao: Anything Ichemma had taken up in the near past? What is coming up in the near
future?
Mema: A couple of albums have been finished recording. Now, it's
for the financiers to look for a company to market them.
E-Pao: Any future ambition yet to be fulfilled?
Mema: A Place for a Manipuri singer in the Indian
Classical. We have a very rich resource of compositions in our folk songs. My wish is to
exploit this resource and bring out a different kind of classical as well as light
compositions that can be the new attraction in the Indian classical scene.
E-Pao: You have been living in Mumbai for the past few years. How do you like living in
Mumbai so far?
Mema: Living in Mumbai has been so far good for me. Besides giving
public programs of Gazals, Sastriya Sangeet, Bhajan, I get opportunity of being among the
eminent artists in many cultural programs. Mumbai is a good place for music as it gives
place for every kind of music. And my life is music -without music I can't live. In
Manipur, music market is very small, and the types of singing never go beyond the kind of
saying "Sumang or Mangol Da Khara Shakpa Haibaduni ...". It was the kind of
thing I quite feared most during my young days.
E-Pao: Is there anything you would like to convey to Manipuris living out of Manipur?
What should our aspiring singers develop or follow to succeed outside Manipur in the Music
or Entertainment world?
Mema: They should work hard and shouldn't necessarily go for money, strive for
qualities. The talented ones should come from the state and face the real world like
Dingko. The world should not be confined to a small place. They should be able to book
places in Sastriya Sangeet.
E-Pao: Any suggestion to the Government of the State?
Mema: Well, the government obviously has certain roles to play. They should encourage
people to groom the talents in music and dance. Well, for dance something has already been
there. But for vocal and instrumental music steps should be taken up to be able to
challenge the rest of India like giving fellowship to students and sending them to renown
colleges and institutions, send them to All India Music Conferences, should set up
research institutions in music. The government can also take up music as a compulsory
subject in schools and colleges.
E-Pao: Ichemma, thank you so much for sharing your experience and your views on the
music as a whole. We wish you all the best for your future endeavour.
Mema: It's my pleasure and thanks for the wishes.
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