Film, theatre fraternity mourn Bhupen
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07 2011:
Hordes of eminent theatre personalities and film makers including Ratan Thiyam and Aribam Syam Sharma have expressed their heartfelt sorrow at the demise of legendary singer, composer and poet Bhupen Hazarika.
Following a prolonged illness legendary singer, composer and lyricist Bhupen Hazarika passed away at a Mumbai hospital on November 5.He was 86 .
" I have no words to express my sorrow over his demise.
My sorrow comes from the core of my heart," said an emotional Ratan Thiyam , who is the chairman of Chorus Repertory Theatre.
"Bhupenda was a forceful cultural activist.
The force of culture he gave was akin to the mighty Brahmaputra river.
We also feel like orphans when he left us," Thiyam (65), a resident of Uripok said.
"With the traditional Nepali cap , he always smiled and treated me as his younger brother and I too treated him as my elder brother.
I had a close association with him officially and personally," he said.
While Bhupen was the chairman of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, Thiyam said he was the executive director.
Said Aribam Syam Sharma "He (Bhupen) was really a genius and his creativity in the field of music was extraordinary.
The passing away of a great artist and a creator of impressive music is a great loss for not only Assam but the whole country" .
He added that he was shocked with the sad news of Bhupen's demise.
A recipient of the prestigious Grand Prix award for 'Imagi Ningthem' and Dr V Shantaram lifetime achievement award, Syam said that he ,however, did not meet Bhupen personally.
Echoing Syam, renowned young documentarian Bachaspatimayum Sunzu, who bagged four National film awards in the top categories, said with Bhupen's demise, the Nort East particularly Assam has lost a brand ambassador of music.
"It would be very hard for the region to fill the vacuum left by Bhupen Hazarika," said Sunzu, whose latest non-feature film 'Heart to Heart' bagged the National award (best non-feature film) a few months back.
Noted film editor-cum-cameraman Kongbrailatpam Bimol Sharma, who along with his late father K Ibohal Shama, a prominent film maker and noted singer-cum-actor Kh Joykumar, met Bhupen way back in 1999, said he was shocked with the death of the legendary singer.
"I along with my late father and actor Joykumar met and talked for a while with Bhupen Hazarika during an international film festival at Kolkata in 1999.My father's film 'Sambal Wangba' was screened then.
He (Bhupen) was calm and gentle," Bimol said.
Joining the condolence , Eminent theatre director Kshetrimayum Jugindro popularly known as Kshetri Jugindro said Bhupen, who created a forceful culture through music , has gone leaving the cultural activities of the region as well the country in a sea of sorrow.
A National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi graduate, Jugindro is the director of 'Manipuri Ensemble', a popular theatre group in the State.
He successfully organized a series of theatre festivals and workshops on narrative art a few months back.
"We in Manipuri Ensemble, held a condolence meeting with all artistes and prayed for his (Bhupen) heavenly abode," Jugindro , a resident of Imphal West , said.