Infotainment
Nagaland Post, Dimapur Friday, August 19, 2016
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he music album, “Standing Tall,” can be considered an achievement for anyone hailing from a traditional Naga Baptist church background. Toshi Langu, now former Associate Pastor of Ao Baptist Church, Kohima, has always been an endearingly unique man, and a fine singer at that. I still have the mental picture of him many years ago in one solemn occasion. While all the other pastors wore their formal shirt-pant or suit with neck-tie, he came in a yellowish over-sized jacket written ‘Defendor’ across the back. He stood out. He was a Youth Pastor at that time. He loved the youth and identified with them. His song, “Wasted Years” is inspired directly with experiences he had with some of the youth he counseled and ministered to. Drug addiction was rampant at that time and many young people lost their lives in the battle. The song laments about wasted lives and their futile pursuit of youthful pleasures. Ultimately they have nothing to show except ‘scars’ of yesterday. He says, “In my imagination I’m taking the place of that young man.” And running parallel to his own life, he too spent his prime time “searching for a heart of gold or a pot of gold at the end of the rain bow.” After years of wilderness wanderings, Langu finally settled down and married at past 40 years of age. He has always been the ‘quintessential artist’ in Church Ministry, and he never let go off his flair for churning out melodies. Since 1979, it has been his dream to bring out a music album. Over the decades that followed he made several attempts to work with local musicians and singers. How-
ever, his project of a life time took off only when he met and collaborated with Tiatoshi Jamir in 2012. Tiatoshi Jamir, Associate Professor, Dept. of Hist. & Archaeology, NU, and front man of folk-jazz band “Blue Print,” created the music for Langu’s bi-lingual album, “Walking Tall.” It took 2 full years to complete and was released in Dec 2014. The album is composed of 9 songs, 6 in English and 3 in Ao (mixture of Chungli and Mongsen) Naga. The songs, “Terutu Ken” and “Narola’s Lullaby” (both in Ao), “Wasted Years,” and “Walking Tall,” are above all, highly imaginative and evocative of rich local imagery, both of shared Naga history and personal life accounts. “Walking Tall” retells Naga history of political uprising in the 1950’s; the utter carnage (burning of villages/granaries, groupings, rape, inhuman torture) and inconsolable tears experienced by innocent village folks at the hands of the Indian Army. No, there is no trace of bitterness in his tone but rather a somber ‘remembrance;’ indeed, a reverential revisit of a dark past as stamped very deep in one’s psyche. One notices an underlying optimism, a belief in the fact that “laughter will fill the land” once more and we will “walk tall and free again.” “Narola’s Lullaby,” a heart-wrenching lullaby with a similar socio-political theme as “Walking Tall” is very artistically rendered. Langu is a good story teller. According to him, “I love telling a story. All the songs are stories about somebody or something.” The most candid story Langu has sung is evident in “Ku Lanuwa” (my childhood). He narrates about the
Toshi Langu
hunger his family suffered and the insults hurled at them by the rich. His brother who was forced to join the underground movement escaped to Dimapur from Lakhuni village because he could no longer bear the suffering. As a result, his father had to face the fury of the underground authorities and was levied a huge fine. With borrowed money and resultant debt, they fell into extreme poverty. Langu engages in a ‘remembrance’ of his childhood which was full of deprivation, yet his mother’s brave smiling face kept them going. There is no remorse about his past. He simply emerges as someone who has made peace with his past, transcending it gloriously. The music in “Old Timer’s Song” stands out quite distinctly. Tiatoshi Jamir has draped the song in highly catchy, unusual and lovely music; and the lines, “tomorrow for me may never come, today I will sing and praise the Lord” shoots straight at the listener’s heart. “Wasted Years,” though pretty inventive and quite theatrical too, somewhat lacks the thunder and goose-bump effect as I wished it did. This is one song
from the whole album with great promise and potential for a super-hit remake or even an adaptation. “Terutu Ken,” incidentally my favorite, is sung both in Chungli and Mongsen and is very poetic. Mid-day in mid-summer (terutu) and the humming of birds in a village – this supposedly mundane rural imagery has the strange capacity to slay you with its profound simplicity. Langu, who has been a realist in all his songs, launches a utopian dream in, “Land of a Thousand Rainbows.” He presents Nagaland as a fairytale, a fantasy land, with a deliberate glorification of nature - hornbills roaming the sky and mithuns grazing on misty mountains, heaven as being just a walk away from here! Indeed, how remote is that description from present day Nagaland! He definitely composed this song for ‘effect.’ And sure enough, he had ‘tourism’ in mind for it. Another one that scraped through in my list is “The Pilgrim’s Song.” The tune of this song Langu learnt in Germany but meaningfully composed his own lyrics. Something about this moralistic number reminded me strongly of the school concerts we used to stage in Shillong way back in those days; undeniably quite innocent and amateurish but still somehow able to garner a sizable audience. On the whole his ‘lyrics’ are highly rhythmical and imaginative, and evocative of local imageries that are not very difficult to identify with. As for the ‘melody,’ it is very simple and hummable, and definitely belongs to the ‘oldschool’ genre. However, they are beautifully standardized by Tiatoshi’s ingenious musi-
cal compositions and artful arrangements. The charming flute accompaniment lends a further dimension to the over-all product. Understandably, Langu’s musical inspiration comes from Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Simon & Art Garfunkle, and from protest singers such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. A host of singers and musicians who contributed to the making of this successful album include: Engg. Tali Jamir (Guitarist of “Blue Print”), internationally acclaimed Flautist Bikramjit Singh, Toshinaro Imchen (Naga Idol 08’), Jamiyinla Jamir, Metet Jamir, Aosenla Jamir, Lanutoshi Lemtur, Meren, Senup Oz, Apong, John Pfokrelo, Dzuvihol Kweho and Bendangla Changkiri Toshi. Langu, who now heads ‘The Frontline Prayer Ministries,’ has a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment with the delivery of this lifetime music project. “No Sad Songs for Me” is the song he has already requested his wife even beforehand to be played during his funeral. According to him this song sums up the philosophy of his life. As a wayfaring stranger passing through life with heaven as the real destination, there is no need for flowery eulogy, expensive coffin or marble tombstone. He says, “I don’t appreciate the pretensions and praises after death. What’s the use of all that when we die. If you want, just plant a weeping willow over my grave.” So considering all this, we see a man living a fulfilling and rewarding life and is not at all afraid to step into the hereafter. And surely, such a spiritually evolved person does deserve to be celebrated. Written by: Susan Waten
limits you as actor
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“T
he Promise”, the Armenian Genocide-themed feature produced by Kirk Kerkorian’s Survival Pictures will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The festival also announced on Tuesday, August 16 that “The Promise” will be featured as one of the event’s coveted opening weekend galas on September 11. The film, which hails from award-winning director of “Hotel Rwanda,” Terry George, stars Golden Globe winner Oscar Issac, Academy Award winning actor Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon in the lead. “Michael, a humble Armenian apothecary, leaves his village to study medicine in cosmopolitan Constantinople. Chris, an American photojournalist who has come to the country to partly cover the geopolitics, is in a relationship with the talented Ana, a Paris-educated, Armenian artist. When Michael meets
Benedict Cumberbatch explains what Scarface II; who will play Tony Montana? really makes doctor strange a superhero
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arvel’s “Doctor Strange” is only a couple months away, and while we eagerly await witnessing the Sorcerer Supreme’s mystic powers in action, star Benedict Cumberbatchsays he believes it’s Stephen Strange’s more human qualities that truly make him so strong. “This man reaches the very bottom and then more,” Cumberbatch said in an interview with EW. “You think, How much more can this guy take? He’s broken, he gets up again, he’s broken -- and that’s really what makes him a superhero.” In the comic books, Stephen Strange finds
himself in a crippling car accident that ruins his prowess as a renowned surgeon before traveling to Nepal to study the arcane arts. It’s there that he discovers his true calling as the world’s Master of the Mystic Arts. “A lot of people have asked me, ‘What makes him a superhero?’ That’s really the answer I should have given...It’s about his staying power. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. he long-touted Scarface The guy endures so much.” remake has allegedly takCumberbatch certain has a point, although en a huge step forward, training from the Ancient One, a Cloak of Levita- as Training Day’s Antoine tion and the powerful artifact known as the Eye Fuqua is in talks to direct the project. But now the big quesof Agamotto certainly don’t hurt, either.
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Notice
Joint Coordination Meeting of the Padum Pukhuri Village Council, VLO, Self Help Groups and Anganwadi Workers of Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland
with Antoine Fuqua. But the big question now is, who will try and step into Al Pacino’s shoes and play Tony Montana? Despite his work in such films as Heat, The Godfather, The Godfather: Part Two, Dog Day Afternoon, and Scent Of A Woman, Pacino’s crowning achievement, and most notorious work, as an actor is widely acknowledged to come courtesy his tour-deforce performance as Tony Montana.
AO KONG YOUTH FORUM FELICITATES
We the Aokong Youth Forum, Dimapur would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Mr. B. Imsunungsang, S/o I. Bendangmongba Longchar of Waromung Village who has brought laurels to our Aokong Youth by securing Gold Medal in M.B.A (Finance) from USTM University, Meghalaya in the recently concluded exam 2016. President (Temsuwapang)
General Secretary (Longer)
FREE AUDITION …. “ACTING” …. AUDITION for Bollywood & Tollywood Movies. SAIBABA ENTERTAINMENT KOLKATA is looking for Upcoming Talents from Nagaland & Assam.
Date & Time : 21st August,2016 (Sunday), 11am onwards. Venue : Hotel Lake Shilloi, near Vishal Mart, Dimapur. Age : 10 years & above. Requirements: Two recent Photographs & Date of Birth Certificate. Advance “REGISTRATION“ for Audition may also be done through SMS – to 9856744242,9774335229, 07029533672.
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It is hereby informed to all the trained candidates of SSB volunteer WATS of Nagaland, those who have submitted the documents in the office but not appointed are requested to contact within 3 days for an emergency meeting. Contact Number : 8729930451 Contact Number : 9402824330 Contact Number : 9862039546 Contact Number : 9436017783
tion is, who will look to replace the irreplaceable Al Pacino as Tony Montana? Deadline has reported that Fuqua is already deep in talks with Universal to potentially oversee the latest incarnation of the film. 1983’s Scarface was itself a remake of 1932’s Scarface, which had Paul Muni in the titular role. The latest script for Scarface was actually written by Suicide Squad‘s David Ayer. Paul Attansio also had a whack at the script, before Jonathan Herman wrote the most recent draft that is now being shopped around to directors, starting
Ana, their shared heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between the two men. After the Turks join the war on the German side, the Ottoman Empire turns violently against its own ethnic minorities. Despite their conflicts, everyone must find a way to survive — even as monumental events envelope their lives,” reads the film synopsis on the TIIF website. George, who was nominated for a best director Oscar for “Hotel Rwanda,” co-wrote “The Promise” with another Academy Award nominated screenwriter Robin Swicord. In March 2013, George was a guest of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, where the Irish filmmaker compared the Armenian Genocide to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The film, which also stars Charlotte Le Bon, James Cromwell, Marwan Kenzari, Jean Reno, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Angela Sarafyan, among others, completed shooting in Europe last fall and is in post-production.
any Bollywood stars might obsess over achieving six-pack abs but Nawazuddin Siddiqui prefers his lean body structure as he feels it allows him to do a variety of roles. When asked about the physique-conscious Bollywood, Siddiqui in a Q&A said, “I thinksix-pack (abs) body limits you as an actor.I can do a variety of roles as I have a normal body structure.” Nawazuddin Siddiqui: I am not here for the money The 42-year old ‘Badlapur’ star interacted with the audience at the ongoing Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), where he was honoured with the best actor award for his performance as a psychopathic serial killer in ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’. The actor described the role as his most challenging work yet. “The entire film process had been very challenging. It has been very challenging role for me as the character I am playing was someone, who loves killing people.” Siddiqui further said that he believed the most difficult and vital part of acting was to achieve the level of honesty in the role that an actor plays. The Anurag Kashyap-directed film is a part of the festival this year among the 50 films from India and sub-continent.
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Toshi Langu: quintessential artist in ministry
Genocide movie “The Promise” to Nawazuddin Siddiqui: world premiere at Toronto Festival having six-pack abs
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KOHIMA SUMI HOHO Kohima: Nagaland
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KOHIMA PHIRO EKHÜNG
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The Khensa Students’ Union would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Sentimenla Jamir, w/o Dr. Alongba Tzudir (D/o Mr & Mrs T.Yanger Jamir Khensa) for achieving the Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) in the Department of Horticulture, from Assam Agricultural University Jorhat, on the thesis: “Morphological and Biochemical Characterization in KING CHILLI (Capsicum Chinense)" under the guidance of Dr. B D Narzary Professor Dept. of Horticulture AAU Jorhat. The Union further convey our best wishes in her future endeavor.
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Mr. Malangchang President, KSU
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Mr. Lanunukshi Jamir Gen.Secy. KSU
RENGMA PUBLIC ORGANIZATION, KOHIMA Motto: “Identity & Welfare”
FELICITATES The Rengma Public Organization Kohima, express our joy and extent heartiest congratulations to two of our members for their outstanding achievement in the recently NPSC Exam 2016. 1. Mr. Jethro Messen, son of Mr. Wikhenu Messen (Inspector of Industries/Extension officer, Deptt. of Industries & Commerce and 2. Miss. KetsinleTep, daughter of Mr. Pollem Tep (Inspector of Labour, Deptt. of Labour and Employment) We wish them success in their future endeavor. Sd/Sd/(Shingato Jemu) (Khinyi Woch) Vice President RPOK. President RPOK. +91-9436011090 +91-9436000692
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OFFICE OF THE KHENSA STUDENTS’ UNION FELICITATE
Wojamo Lotha VDB, Secy.
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The Kohima Phiro Ekhüng is proud to felicitate Mr. Wonchio Odyuo (NCS) ADC, Shamator, Tuensang and Mr. Sorenthung Lotha, Office Peon, Dte. of Women Resource Development on being bestowed the Governor’s Commendation Certificate on the occasion of Independence Day, 2016. The Ekhüng also would like to congratulate Mrs. Khobeno Ovung, Teacher in Charge GPS, Phiro ‘A’ for being selected State Award 2016. The Ekhüng extend its best wishes in their future endeavours.
Robin Tungu Vice Chairman Kohima Phiro Ekhüng
Vitoka Katty PPVC
OFFICE OF THE
FELICITATES
Myanthung Patton Secretary Kohima Phiro Ekhüng
A Joint Co-ordination Meeting was held on 13/08/2016 at the Padum Pukhuri Village Council Hall. Eighteen Self Help Groups who were present in the meeting gave a detailed reports of revolving fund utilization. Six Anganwadi Centre's workers also shows reports of children's attendance and nutrition distribution. Village Council Chairman, Shri. Vitoka Katty, encouraged Self Help Group's activities and he said this type of coordination meeting will be held time to time. He requested them to do work hard for economic upliftment of the society. It was also decided in the meeting to conduct social work together every second Saturday of the month to keep the village neat and clean (Swacch Bharat).
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FELICITATION
The Kohima Sumi Hoho extend our heartiest congratulations to Er.Kughaho Chophy, son of Late Suhovi Chophy on being promoted to Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Govt. of Nagaland. The Kohima Sumi Hoho convey our best wishes in all your future endeavours. Dr.Vinito Chishi Khetoho V Nurumi President, KSH Secretary, KSH
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