Guwahati, May 4: The residence of folk singer Dolly Das at Milan Nagar in Dibrugarh will be turned into a cultural miniplex to promote folk music.

The miniplex will contain a multi-purpose auditorium - with a capacity to seat 50 people - a folk museum, shop for folk music and traditional ornaments and a namghar (traditional prayer hall).

The singer said the miniplex would be ready next month. A portion of the singer's residence will be converted into the miniplex.

"We wish to create a platform for rural folk artistes to perform with modern equipment without any protocol or red tape. Anyone can come and visit the folk culture museum for an idea of the rich cultural heritage of the state," said Shankar, the singer's son.

"The new generation has been kept in mind while constructing the miniplex. We always blame them for a lack of knowledge of our indigenous folk culture. They can come and view folk music instruments and dress materials here. They can shop from rural entrepreneurs at a marginal cost. This is not a business hub but a place to interact with manufacturers and buyers," he said.

"Anyone can perform a folk-based musical programme in the mini auditorium or rehearse or hold meetings for the uplift of the folk culture of the state. This is open to all with a purpose to give a good platform for the uplift of folk culture," he added.

The singer told The Telegraph that she would teach folk songs to people at the miniplex. "The core attraction of this miniplex will be the namghar, which will be air-conditioned and equipped with an LCD screen, audio set-up and morning and evening prayer broadcast of naam-kirtan with pre-programme facilities," said Shankar.

He said the project was conceptualised by the singer herself and will be funded by the family.

"This miniplex is going to be a public domain and will be run by a trust in the name of the singer," he added.

She has been performing Assamese folk songs for the past five decades and is associated with many folk culture development organisations from the Northeast.

She has imparted training in lokgeet, borgeet and dihanaam to over 10,000 students.

Das has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the World Record University, Vietnam. She has five books on folk songs to her credit and has lent her voice to almost 75 audio and video cassettes, records and CDs and video CDs.