Sorri Senjam - Interview and Profile

* Interview by Team E-pao

Sorri Senjam

Name: Sorri Senjam

Address: Khurai Chingangbam Leikai

DOB: 17th September

Hobbies: Music Making

Fav. Singer/Musician: Dream Theater.

Fav Food: Champhut, Torobot Ooti.

Fav. Musical Instrument: Piano, Penna, Guitar.

Fav Song: Pabung Pahari's "Ei Eshei Shakaroi Khalli Adubu Yade"

His First Film - in 2009

Film Name - Kaboklei

Sorri Senjam's parents realize that their son was a singer from his very childhood. He has started learning music from a very tender age and grown up to become a well known face in the music as well as film world of Manipur. The singer shares his view on his various interest and struggles of his career and life.

Listen to the entire 37 minutes interview with Sorri Senjam below:

Sorri Senjam

E-pao: Sorri can you please share your journey towards music?
Sorri: I started learning music from a very tender age. I don't even remember the name of my first teacher. I learnt Hindustani music first and then so on. I remember going for class at Sangit-niketan when I was very young. And then I learnt music under Thingbaijam Bipinchadra and Oja Kameshwar. At that time, my voice was not really adaptable to singing so I learnt playing Keyboard. My brother too taught me the form of western music.

E-pao: Do you have any other experience which you would like to share to us?
Sorri: Yes, in 1999 I went to learn music at Bangalore School of Music where I was taught Western Classical. I had to quit it in between because of some financial problems. Actually my major was Piano and as it was very costly to buy a piano of my own, so I could not complete my learning in the said school. Before Bangalore I went to Rajasthan but the music structure there was not really fit for me so I had to come to Bangalore. My travel from Rajasthan to Bangalore was one memorable one for I travel in a truck to Bangalore and it took 7 days to reach there.

E-pao: Who among the Manipuri singers do you like the most?
Sorri: Pabung Pahari and Oja Sanaton Sharma. I like Oja Laishram Mema also for she has good knowledge not only on music but also of the instruments too. She knows the theory of music quite well.

E-pao: Is there any projects with Singers apart from Manipur?
Sorri: Till now I haven't had any but in times to come, I believe that I will be able to work with them in my own compositions. I strongly believe that we should have a proper department to uplift our music Industry.

E-pao: What do you do on your free Times?
Sorri: I go to the nearby hills and enjoy the tranquility and peace of nature.

E-pao: How do you feel on becoming a well known singer of Manipur?
Sorri: I feel really good on becoming a well known singer in Manipur now but there are also things which made me feel bad at the same time. It is easy for a singer to sing the already directed song but the music director works sleepless night to make the song perfect. But, unfortunately the mass knows only the singer and does not try to appreciate the director's effort. For example, I have made good music before but I was not notice by the people but when I started singing, people know me now. I am happy that people love me but I also think that we should also appreciate the music makers as well.

E-pao: How many students do you have as of now and what are your plans?
Sorri: I have around 150 plus students and if I am financially capable, I would open a music school.

E-pao: What message would you like to give to the upcoming artist?
Sorri: New and upcoming artist should not always confine to one form of music. They should explore music in many possible ways as they could. They should learn to compose their own music and become independent of others. There are many forms of music available in Manipur as it has a very rich folk culture, not only the Meitei folks but also the tribal folks too.

E-pao: What is your view on live orchestra and karaoke music when performing live?
Sorri: Crowds loves performing with orchestra's better but if they are not really up to date with their music it is difficult to perform to our fullest. So it depends on the orchestras and at some point of time Karaoke is better.

Sorri Senjam

E-pao: What is your view on Piracy?
Sorri: Piracy should be strictly checked and not be allowed. It is like pick pocketing. If this continues, it will kill our career and it badly has its affects on the films too.

E-pao: What is your view on Irom Sharmila's cause?
Sorri: I really support her cause, her strength and if the need comes, we will all join her.

E-pao: What message would you like to give to the youths who are not really concern in life?
Sorri: I would like to advice them to have an objective in life. Even if they enjoy their life for a while, they should know what to do at the end of the day. If we enjoy life without any objective in life, they would really suffer in life. So I would tell them to follow the good path of life for life is too short to waste and it is never late to realize this. Because it is not only their life they are wasting but when they are left with nothing in life, they will be a burden to someone else too.

E-pao: Thank You, Sorri
Sorri: Thank You

Listen to Sorri Senjam's songs at Radio e-pao here

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