Imphal, April 16: A young rock icon among the present generation lots in his own right, Mayanglambam Uttam continues with his mission lampooning the social and political ills in the State along with conserving the traditional Manipuri music through his songs.

The impact of prolonged imposition of the controversial Armed Forces Special (Powers) Act, the frequent incident of kidnapping and murdering of children for ransom and the political instability that has become the hallmark of administration in strife-torn State are all packed in his latest solo album "Kanglasha" (the state's emblem).

And Uttam is all set to present all these numbers at Bheigyachanda Open Air Theatre (BOAT) within the historic palace compound here on Friday with a bang.

Kanglasha, which was released today, is his second solo album and it consists of 9 songs five of which are penned by himself.

" It took me two years to bring out this album," a soft-spoken Uttam said.

Expounding the inner meaning of his new songs, he said in Tunggi Yumbi (Future' pillars) he portrayed the frequent kidnapping and murdering of children for ransom by miscreants.

This song also questioned the rationale behind victimising the innocent tiny tots who are the future of the society and the Government 's failure to book the perpetrators, he said.

Another song Meetei Chanu (Manipuri Women)/ AFSPA, he hit out at the excesses committed by the security forces to the innocent women with immunity granted under the repressive military Act.

"On this I penned the events of the brutal murder and rape of Thangjam Manorama Devi by the troopers of Assam Rifles and the historic disrobing in front of Kangla by our Imas (mothers) in protest against the Act in July 2004.I also lampooned the Government's failure to repeal the Act despite public outcry against it", he explained.

In " Kanglasha", penned by King Thamar, the 30-year old singer exhorted all the economically deprived people to wake up and create an energetic work force discipline for boosting Manipur's economy.

Some romantic numbers have also been included in the new album.

In his first album "Lamdam Tamna" (Isolated place) released in 2005, Uttam who completed his master in Sociology from Pune, took up the issue of kidnapping and subsequent murder of baby Lungnila Elizabeth.

Apart from reflecting the social and political ills in his songs, Uttam is also committed to conserving the traditional Manipuri music.

"Though I began my singing career with western music I have now transformed my music with a typical fusion music blending with the traditional Manipuri musical instruments", he said, while preferring to describe his music as " Progressive Rock Fusion".

"I love my own traditional music and almost all my songs are blended with local musical instruments including Pena (Violin type), Moibung (Conch) and Langdren (Traditional Kabui Naga drum) etc", Uttam , who has given performance in several parts of the country said .

Manipur Industrial Self Help Group Corporation (AMISCO), which is going to organise the Friday's concert would also hold a blood donation camp ahead of the concert to mark its approach for a healthy State.

Khomdram Mocha, coordinator of the corporation said the fund to be driven by the concert would be utilized to augment the corporation's constituents SHGs.

" We would also give awards in fond memory of Jana Neta Irawat, the founder of communist movement in Manipur, to some excellent SHSs on Friday ", Khomdram said.

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