Singer : Konthoujam Bobin (Bin)

: Konthoujam Bobin

Bobin sings songs based on drug abuse and its awareness, songs against social stigma and discrimination of HIV positive persons, against crime of women and children, songs to praise one's profession .......

Konthoujam Bobin
Name: Konthoujam Bobin (Bin)
Father's Name: (Late) Konthoujam Tombingou Singh
Mother's Name: Konthoujam Pramodini Devi
Spouse's Name: Nganbi Chanu
Height: 175 cm
Date of Birth : 1st January
Address: Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Imphal West district
Educational Qualification: MA (English)
Musical Qualification: 3rd year in Hindustan Classical vocal under Vatkhande, Lucknow
Hobbies: Listening to music, chatting with friends
First audio album: Rashi Leibi
Hit songs from Bobin: Farage Nang, Yoo, Thikadar, Mathai Thaina, Nungairo Nungairo Napan Faringei Nungaihouro, Sendoi Chabi Bimola, Khaki Chorfon Machuse, Punshise Karino Nungaige Hingbani, Leikaigi Ichal Nangbu-O, Monalisa
Photo Gallery Click here

Bobin  Konthoujam posing for the camera
Bobin Konthoujam posing for the camera



Rich in arts and culture, Manipur also has a number of singers both in Hindustani and western music. Bobin Konthoujam, a well known young singer of Manipur, mostly sings based on social issues. He sings songs based on drug abuse and its awareness, songs against social stigma and discrimination of HIV positive persons, against crime of women and children, songs to praise one's profession.

The ideology/principle on why Bobin sing songs based on social issues is that - this is what Bobin wants to contribute to the people of the state through music. "One must show that one should something that will be remembered even after death" Bobin asserted. His guiding force to take up social issues through music are Oja Shantikumar, Thingnam Kishan and Sir Iboyaima of DM College of Arts, writings and novels of GC Tongbra. George Bernard Shaw also inspired/influenced Bobin in spreading message to the society through music.

Bobin in his songs like Yoo, Kangkra, Mapa leitrab machase, Thikadar, Khaki chorfon machuse, Sendoi Chabi Bimola interprets the issues of drug abuse, discrimination of HIV infected children, destitute children, disrespect on one's profession, preservation of work culture and also about the Armed Forces. In his upcoming music albums 'Train', Heinou and San Chang-nge, he interprets on how Manipur will see a change when railways reach Imphal and the resulting issue of illegal migrants influx to our state.

Bobin  Konthoujam posing for the camera
Bobin Konthoujam posing for the camera



In music, Bobin came across various stages, where in his first stage, he took up western music while he was studying in Class VIII. He was the vocalist in western music bands like Slave and Master, Fortune Hunter, Born Free, etc. During singing, Bobin had to fight against 'stage fear' by performing break dance on stage in his school days. He also served as the Social and Culture Secretary of the DM College of Arts Student's Union .

While as a vocalist of the western music band, Bobin was eager to sing Hindustani songs, and so he approached one of the best musician of the state, Guru Jiangam Kamei, to seek his blessings. Then after taking lessons from Jiangam Kamei, Bobin set on to produce his first audio cassette titled 'Rashi Leibi' in the year 2000.

Songs like Leiranggi Leinam, Ram gina Sita are from his first album. He also sang for albums like Draupadi, hallaklo, Tapta GV-10, Sandhyagi Eeshei, Star of Swamikumar, Delhigi rani, etc. In his effort towards Hindustani music, Bobin knocks to the door of Oja Doren, Phurailatpam Iboyaima, Jiten Khaidem, Naorem Jiten to learn classical music and voice culture. Further, Bobin approached Oja Dilip where he was in touch for a long period of his learning classical music.

Bobin  Konthoujam posing for the camera Bobin Konthoujam posing for the camera

Besides, his gurus who taught Bobin the art of classical music, he never forgets his friends like G. Hemchandra Sharma, Binodkanta, Vir Bhadra, Sorri Senjam (before he becomes a musician) and Dushant.

Most of the songs of Bobin are self composed and self written lyrics where he conveys the chaos of the general population. He wants the concerned authority to listen to his songs so that they might learn about the chaos that is happening to the general public .

'Farage Nang' of Ronika Studio production is the first solo CD album of Bobin followed by 'Yoo' of JB productions, 'Thikadar' of Nganbi Chanu productions, 'Ningthou' also of Nganbi Chanu productions, 'Khujinna Sikkanbi' and 'Sendoi Chabi Bimola'.

Serving as a singer of Manipuri matam eeshei for the last 12 years, Bobin has perfomed in almost every nook and corner of the state. He has also given mega musical concerts outside Manipur including Guwahati, Shillong, Hojai, Silchar, Agartala, Lakhimpur, Sonai, Haila kandi, Kolkatta, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bangalore, Mumbai and neighbouring country Myanmar.

Achievement in Competition

Ø 1st position (Best vocalist) in Western Solo vocal at All India Inter University Youth festival 2002-03 held at Kalyani University, Kolkata.

Ø 1st position in western group song at All India Inter University Youth Festival 2002-03 held at Kalyani University, Kolkata.

Ø 1st position (best vocalist) in western solo vocal at All India Inter University Youth Festival 2001-02 held at Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

Ø 3rd position at western vocal solo at National Youth Festival 2002-03 under A.I.U at Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh.

Ø 4th position in western solo vocal in All India Inter University Youth Festival 2001-02 held at Amritsar, Punjab.

Besides singing for music video albums, Bobin also sings for various Manipuri digital films as playback singers including films like Dr. yaima, Thamoinungda, nanga thengnaramdraba, Ngamna ngamnaba, nangee saktam, Eisu thamoi palli, monalisa, thamoishe nanggi oiradi, eigi meet ani, nachom, basantagi nongallamdai, handakta nouna khangnaba, nangshe, keishamthong thoibi, eekhenglakta kundo pareng, mikuptudagi, maker, hangningli thamoisina, amamba wayel, echagidamak, turban wangma, ei mee ki, etc.

Popular number of Bobin includes, Farage Nang, Yoo, Thikadar, Mathai Thaina, Nungairo Nungairo Napan Faringei Nungaihouro, Sendoi Chabi Bimola, Khaki Chorfon Machuse, Punshise Karino Nungaige Hingbani, Leikaigi Ichal Nangbu-O, Monalisa, etc.

Not only in music, Bobin has been a cricket player too and has played for the last 20 years; he plays for Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) as a Senior 'A' Cricket Player under Manipur Cricket Association.

To youth who love to listen and be part of the music industry, Bobin cautions that if you want to become a successful singer, you must also have some academic knowledge on music as well as maintain discipline to bear fruit in your career. "One who wishes to have a successful career in music must have patience as opportunity seldom comes in our way" - Bobin said. "Instead of sticking to a particular task, one must explore the different angles of the world", Bobin said, "one must learn something of everything and everything of something".

Bobin opined that matam eeshei is the songs that has developed over a period of time. Change in music comes as there are also social changes, the style of today's music will also change in the years to come. So matam eeshei changes according to the adjustment of the generation.



** Daniel Chabungbam wrote this article for eRang
The writer is presently working as Manipur Correspondent of guwahati based Frontier TV 24 x 7 news channel
This post was first posted on July 20 2012

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