Burmese ‘die hard’ rocker, rocks Delhi

by Mungpi
Monday, 14 December 2009 13:12

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The crowds cheered and fans swayed from side to side in rhythmic motion as they sang with the music, transmitting waves of energy back to the performers on the stage – the Emperor Band from Burma, in New Delhi on Sunday night.

“I first thought I would only sing three songs, but when I heard the fans cheering and singing along with me, I ended up singing three more,” Zaw Win Htut, the lead singer of Emperor band, said explaining how he was inspired by the cheering crowd.

Zaw Win Htut, or Nyi Htut as he is commonly known, was performing for the first time in India, and this made him and his band slightly ‘nervous’, despite their 25 years experience as a Band.

“I always wanted to come to India, I know that India is a culturally rich country and Indians are great lovers of music, much like the Burmese. And this made me a little bit nervous,” Nyi Htut said.

But his nervousness seemed to have disappeared as he and his band concluded the first number – a blues music. With the crowd cheering, the band ended up singing another five songs ranging from Rock n’ Roll to the ballad.

The ‘Emperor’, started off as a Rock band in Burma 25 years ago, but ended up creating a variety of music including blues, pop, ballads and classical. But as Nyi Htut said, “Rock never dies,” and it still is the favourite of the Band.

Arriving in India’s capital New Delhi on Thursday, the Band said they had gained much experience from participating at the 3rd South Asian Bands Festival, where bands from eight South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries are performing.

While Burma is the only country out of the SAARC countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal – organisers believe Burmese music could be incorporated with the rest of the South Asians.

Despite a quarter century experience, the Emperor said, their visit to Delhi was the first official invitation at an international event.

“We are really glad to have come here, as this is our first official invitation to an international event. And this inspires me, to have a similar kind of festival in Rangoon and invite all those participating here,” Nyi Htut said.

And clearly the loud cheers suggested that Delhi’s music lovers, despite not understanding the Burmese lyrics, were connecting with the taste of music, he added.

Isolated and imposed sanctions by the international community as a punishment to the ruling military regime for their appalling human rights violation, Burma’s youths, particularly music lovers, have had little or no contact with the outside world, as there has been little opportunities to organise such events.

“When I was contacted by the Indian Embassy in Rangoon for this festival, I had asked them for a favour, that is to invite these great bands to Rangoon on my behalf when I can organise such an event in Rangoon,” Nyi Htut said.

Expressing his desire of providing an opportunity to young Burmese music lovers, Nyi Htut said, he had dreamed of organising an international music exchange programme by inviting popular bands from South and South East Asia.

“As part of my dreams, I am planning to organise a Summer Youth Music Festival in Rangoon in April, right before the Thingyan [water festival],” he added.

Amidst cheers of the nearly 2,000 music lovers gathered at the ‘Purana Killa’ in Delhi, a small group could be heard indistinctively singing along with the Burmese tune, occasionally pronouncing clearer lyrics.

About 50 Burmese refugees, living in Western Delhi’s suburban areas, cheered the Burmese popular singer, of whose fame they were aware but had never had an opportunity to witness.

“I am glad I am meeting my fellow Burmese here. I have heard of the Burmese staying in Delhi but never imagined meeting them here. Their presence here, made me want to sing more. So, I ended up singing more than I had prepared for,” Nyi Htut said.

He said, he does not want to use the terms ‘freedom of speech’ or ‘freedom of expression’, but in a simple act of promoting them, music is one effective vehicle that provides the people their freedom of expression.

“I believe our fellow Burmese, who are scattered across the world, would someday have the opportunity that they have longed for, and want to encourage them that someday, we will reunite in our country,” he added.

Organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Seher, an Indian cultural organization, the festival that lasted from December 11 to 13, was an amazing experience and has provided a new enthusiasm, Nyi Htut said.

He said, performances by great Indian bands including the Afflatus, all-girls band from Shillong, Shankar-Ehsaan – Loy from Mumbai, ‘Kabul Dreams’ from Afghanistan, ‘Strings’ from Pakistan, 'Fa'thu and The Early Birds' from Maldives, ‘Who’s your Daddy’ from Bhutan, ‘Paranoid of Earthlings’ from Sri Lanka, Nagarbaul & James and ‘1974 AD’ from Nepal, have provided great inspiration.

“It is my dream of coming to India, and this probably is not going to be my last,” said Nyi Htut, adding that the experience had given him new hope and enthusiasm that through music people could come together.


Information contributed by Mizzima reporters