Shillong brings NE musicians, music lovers together on World Music Day
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Shillong, June 22 2012: In a fitting tribute to World Music Day, a motley crew of musicians enthralled the audiences at North East Music Festival organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) in collaboration with the Meghalaya's department of Arts and Culture and the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong on Thursday.

Music lovers were treated with stellar performances from the likes of the famed Neil Nongkynrih-led Shillong Chamber Choir and Manipur's renowned Naga folk musician Rewben Mashangva.

In no lesser measure, the evening at the sprawling NEHU campus was also serenaded by music groups like Assam Bamboo Band, Omak Komut Collective Band, Nagagenous, Voices Na Rympei, Riakmaw Musical Band, Sofyuim and Chanu Miah.

The musical evening, as if the gig from the NE's musicians alone was not enough, was also charmed by the presence of film celebrities Rahul Bose and Konkona Sen Sharma.

Rahul Bose, in a neat brown kurta, walked up the stage and recited Rabindranath Tagore's timeless literary piece 'Where the Mind is without Fear.' The crowds were ecstatic to see the actor taking the stage.

Rahul and Konkona are currently in Shillong to shoot for a film on Tagore.

In its usual best on the stage, Neil Nongkynrih's choir enthralled the audiences with their own version of Kolaveri-D and Vande Mataram.

Naga folk musician Guru Rewben Mashangva draped in traditional attires and strumming the guitar to indigenous beats floored the music lovers with his rendition of Chongkhom Philava and Lei Ho Le, the folk tune that stirred the musical show 'Dewarists' and featured in Star World in 2011 .

For many music aficionados in Shillong, it was perhaps a maiden date with the Sikkim band Sofynim from Lepcha community, Tripura's Chanu Miah, Omak Komut Collective Band from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagagenous from Nagaland, Mizoram's Riakmaw Musical Band and Assam Bamboo Band.

Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary graced the occasion as chief guest and lauded the efforts in organising of the event in his brief address. The performances on Thursday evening could be simply summed up in the words of Neil Nongkynrih, "Whether singing for one person or for a thousand, always sing wholeheartedly and with passion" .

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