MSAD's Ching-Tam Musical Nite

Roop Raag's artistes descended on the DU campus and entertained thousands, leaving them asking for more…

Manipuri students in Delhi had one of their most memorable moments the other day — when Manipur Students Association of Delhi, MSAD brought to reality their most cherished desire: A musical night in which their homegrown filmstars and singers came down to Delhi and performed before a crowd of thousands. “It is an event that will go down in the history of NE students in Delhi, as it is the first time that they are getting to see their idols together on stage here. We have organised the musical concert not only to fulfil the popular demand of the students but also to make them relate to their roots,” says Seram Rojesh, president of MSAD.
If those were the intentions of the organisers, they were quite successful. Students putting up in different parts of Delhi turned up in full strength – most of them studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia and, ofcourse, Delhi University – to see their favourite stars. Hours before the show began, DU’s Police Ground, the venue of the programme, was packed to its capacity. One student said, “I have come here just to see Sadananda. He rocks.” The most well known actor-cumsinger didn’t disappoint and he did actually steal the scene with his foot-tapping and sentimental songs from his blockbuster movies. Though his movies have been traded among the students here, there was something special about his live performance. Students’ frenzy had reached such a climax that some of them jumped up on the stage to shake hands with him, before bouncers could come to the rescue of the startled star.
As the evening progressed and with more and more students thronging the venue, the event also doubled up as a place to find lost pals.
Besides Sadananda, other famous Manipuri singers like Ranbir Thouna, Roshibina, Umoni, Swamikumar and Nandeswari also captivated the students with vernacular songs that ignited nostalgia among the students. The extravaganza, titled Ching-Tam Musical Nite, meaning ‘unity in diversity’, continued till dawn even as sound of whistles, claps, dances and laughter reverberated through the cool and breezy moonlit night. Could they ask for more?
(Above: Screenshot of a newspaper coverage)