ASSAMESE ON THE SWEETER SIDE LIKE FRENCH

Inside the cosy studio, mumbling to get the exact pronunciation right, Lou Majaw finally emerged exasperated, but chuckled: “Assamese language is on the sweeter side like French, but also a tongue twister.”

Majaw was recording the title track of an Assamese movie, Surjasta here today at the picturesque home studio of Sten’s. It is the first attempt by a Khasi singer to render voice in an Assamese track. Majaw, who is known for his rendition of Dylan numbers, was struggling to get the exact pronunciation.

“Kha…Khaa..,” music director and composer, Kishore Giri reminded the singer about the nuance of phonetics. Majaw dutifully obeyed and put in his effort with his baritone voice. The end result was a beautiful track that has its signature of a visibly undulating Khasi hills flowing over the meandering valleys of Assam.

“Assamese language is on the sweeter side like French and it is also a tongue twister for me, as I am not that much gifted as a linguist,” Majaw, said, attired in his trademark track pants, sleeveless T-shirt, only adding a Gamocha, tucked under his flowing locks.

The singer said that although it is difficult at times to get the correct accent of the language, but he anyway wants to sing the song with a “Khasi twang.” “If the song is sung with the correct accent than it would not be different. I want to sing in Assamese with a Khasi twang,” he reasoned.

He said that Giri first approached him to sing the title track and he jumped at the idea, taking it as an opportunity to “learn new things.” “We need to go beyond our limitations or else things gets so monotonous and boring,” the Desi-Dylan said.

Giri, on the other hand, said, he zeroed in on Majaw not just because he is a dear friend of his, but also to bring people of the two neighbouring states closer with such projects.

“When there is so much of conflict in this world, such endeavor would bring people together. Lou singing with a Khasi accent in Assamese is all about harmony in music that hopefully would resonate in the lives of the people of the two states,” the music director and also the composer said.

Meanwhile, the film’s plot revolves around busy parents in today’s world not getting enough time for their children. It is being produced by Rosy Bora; Pradyut Kumar Deka is the Director, while the title track was penned by Jitumoni Bora, a local journalist.