Lokesh of Eastern Dark performs on stage. A Telegraph picture

The surge in the video feature film industry in Manipur has brought in its wake a boom time for modern Manipuri songs, with sundry artistes churning out music albums.

Eastern Dark, a band based in Imphal and led by Lokesh, released its third album, Kangjei (traditional Manipuri hockey stick) on January 30 at Thangmeibound School ground in Imphal city to a packed audience.

Modern Manipuri songs are light Hindustani music. But Lokesh’s songs are a departure from the run- of-the-mill numbers. The 10 songs are a fusion of rock, traditional Manipuri songs and nat sankirtan. The band uses western instruments like guitar, bass and drum, besides the traditional Manipuri pena (a violin-like instrument), moibung (conch shell) and pung (mridanga) in most of the songs.

Lokesh brands his songs as ultra Manipuri ishei (song). These bring back memories of the good old songs of Bob Marley who championed the cause of the African Americans.

Except for two romantic songs, other songs are issue-based. In his opening song, Bobok na hai (Grandmother says), Lokesh describes the precarious situation the people of Manipur are in. The song tells the listeners how the Manipuris are caught between forces and have nowhere to hide.

Another song, A su A, B su B ningnabani (A fights for A, B fights for B) tells how different ethnic communities with conflicting interests are fighting one another. Everybody has become selfish and criticises militants.

Ho ibungo pandit (ho sir pandit) lampoons scholars who forget their own state and conduct research on everything foreign.

The two romantic songs give the listeners an option. The beauty of the songs lies in the excellent fusion of western and Manipuri traditional folk songs and also the use of the instruments.

Being the son of folk singer Thanga Mangonjao, Lokesh uses the beautiful tunes of Manipuri folk genre. Before becoming a professional singer, Lokesh had a stint as a journalist and knows the issues facing the state. He portrays these well in his songs.

The band uses the fusion of western and traditional with an eye on theaudience outside the state. Many filmmakers and music directors have approached Lokesh for his songs for their films. But the singer has turned down their requests as he fears that his songs will be reduced to a “farce”. That speaks volumes about the sincerity of the singer and his band.