Folk Music Reality Show “Lokasangeet Madhuri” of AIR Dibrugarh

The reality show named “Loka Sangeet Madhuri” was inaugurated formally by the Additional Director General (Programme), NEZ & EZ, Shri D.N. Basumatary, eminent musicologist Dr. Dilip Ranjan Borthakur and renowned folk music researcher Dr. Anil Saikia in front of a august gathering at the studio Premises of AIR Dibrugarh on 19th September, 2016. The competition up to the semifinal level was organized inside the studio and the recordings were broadcast on Mondays at 09.30 PM starting from 26th September, 2016 and were repeated at 12.30 PM on the Saturdays for duration of 30 mts.

So far revenue earning is concerned this Reality Show has earned more than 4 lakhs rupees against the production expenditure of nearly two lakhs rupees. The first ever Radio Folk Music Reality Show organized by AIR Dibrugarh concluded with the Grand Finale held at District Library Auditorium, Dibrugarh before invited audience on 20th March 2017. More than five hundred music lovers thronged the auditorium in the beautiful evening of the day, eminent of who were renowned singers, litterateurs, educationists, social workers, dramatists and entrepreneurs. Shri Debendra Nath Basumatari, the Additional Director General (P&A) of All India Radio & Doordarshan for North-East and Eastern Zone formally inaugurated the Grand Finale. Professor Nagen Saikia, former MP and former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Sanjeev Sarma, the proprietor of JJM Hospitals Ltd, Dibrugarh, Shri Hafizur Rahman, the proprietor of Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital Ltd, Dibrugarh and Shri T. K. Dhar, the DGM, State Bank of India graced the occasion and gave away the prizes. Shri Ashish Khound from Golaghat was the winner of the Grand Finale. Among the two other finalists Miss Annesha Phukan (Dibrugarh) won the 2nd prize and Miss Puja Chaudhury (Silapathar) won the 3rd prize. The winner Ashish Khound was awarded a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- a trophy, a certificate, gift hampers and recognition as a AIR Folk Music artist. The second prize winner was awarded with a cash prize of Rs.30,000/- and the 3rd prize winner was awarded Rs.20,000/- along with a trophy, certificate and gift hampers to each of them. Miss Kabita Kumari Tanti was awarded Special Jury Award for her performances during the competition up to the semifinal level.

The remarkable part of this Radio Reality Show was that – during its entire course of journey sincere efforts were made to maintain the basic characteristics of All India Radio as the nation’s public service broadcaster. In other way to say – the productions were carefully designed to educate the young listeners and the competitors about the folk music and folk culture of the society in general and the two genres (Kamrupee & Goalporia Lokageet) of which the competition was held in particular through entertainment.

All India Radio Dibrugarh, which is committed towards the ethical contribution for the inclusive growth of the society and preservation and promotion of cultural and intellectual values with its motto of “Bahujana Hitaya Bahujana Sukhaya” had organized a folk music reality show “Loka Sangeet Madhuri” during September, 2016 and March, 2017. The objective of the reality show was to promote the folk songs of Assam especially among the youth and also to promote the un-tapped musical talents of the state. The competition was among the unmarried youth of the age group of 16 to 30 years.