Alobo Naga, Dreamz Unlimited weave an ‘anthem’ for workers
Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | May 4
In his latest offering, prolific Naga musician, Alobo Naga, poses a simple question: if everyone is after a government job, who will do the other works?
In a quest for an answer, he came up with a song, ‘Mistry Gaana’ ft MOTO – dedicated to “few handful local craftsmen and also to encourage young people in our state to opt for such jobs.” Released on International Labour Day on May 1, the video of the song is edging towards 60,000 views so far on the singer’s YouTube Channel – AloboNagaOfficial—besides generating 10,000 views on Facebook.
In an accompanying note, the singer explains that ‘Mistry Gaana’ is “The construction worker’s song” – an amalgamation of ‘Mistry’ or ‘Mistri’ in Nagamese referring to “a master-craftsman, supervisor of manual workers in India, mason or a construction worker” and ‘Gaana’ meaning song.
Explaining his motive behind the song, Alobo remembers being astounded by the bills paid to workers every weekend while assisting and working with masons, carpenters, painters, plumbers etc. for his music school project.
The push came when the Government of Nagaland declared 2017 as the Year of Construction Workers (YOCW) in collaboration with the YouthNet and Zynorique. They encouraged Naga youth to take up construction work as a feasible and productive career option.
In his signature voice, Alobo’s song is a sharp commentary on the usual Naga preoccupation with government or white-colored jobs.
The song narrates from life—how parents who won’t settle for anything less than a doctor or engineer career for their child; how a village equates success with cracking NPSC exams.
But if everyone becomes a government employee, the song asks, who will build our houses? No job is small or big, it opines, calling for dignity of labour.
Along with a zappy music arrangement, the success of the song greatly lies in the video directed by Tiakumzuk Aier of Dreamz Unlimited, featuring its fleet of actors.
The video’s crisp direction and the natural demeanor of each artist makes it a delightful viewing experience, even compensating for the heavily foreign-accented diction of the singer, which, at times, sounds deviant. Incidentally his first Nagamese song, Alobo admits to be struggling with the song describing it as one of his “most challenging projects” as writing in Nagamese was “so tough” as he struggled “a lot” with phrasing.
“When I told my friends I am composing a Nagamese song, everyone laughed & made fun of me and some even told me not to release it,” he adds.
He took up the challenge to clear the “wrong and negative concept” about Nagamese in general public perception. “I am so humbled, blessed & grateful today for the positive response,” he says on his Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the singer is set to release a new album in July.
The audio for the song was recorded at New Life Studio Dimapur and produced by Moto-tunes. The video was produced by the YouthNet for YOCW and the Government of Nagaland. The video can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKH6uCBxYts The audio is available here: Http://indihut.com/alobonaga/
