Imphal Talkies and The Howlers to rock Sylhet tomorrow

Imphal Talkies and The Howlers, a folk-rock band from Manipur, India, will perform in three consecutive shows from February 13 to 15, in Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar.

The band, also known as simply Imphal Talkies, was formed in 2008, has earned fame for making protest songs about politics, insurgency, human rights, and racial attacks in Manipur and across the Northeast states of India. Consequently, they have become the voice of the North-Eastern states of India.

To promote their latest album Ema Gi Wari, their tour will kick off with a show at Lamabazar Mandap in Sylhet on the first day, followed by a performance at Khunou Leikai Mandap of Bishgaon, Habiganj on February 14. It will wrap up on February 15, with performances at Manipuri Cultural Complex of Bhanugach in Moulvibazar.

Organised by Lamabazar Naharol Lup, Bishgaon Manipuri Club and Bhanugach Naharol Apunba Lup, each of the shows will have interactive sessions with the audience.

Akhu Chingangbam, the lead vocalist of Imphal Talkies visited Assam and Bangladesh on 2018, where he met and talked with Manipuri writers, poets and people from all walks of life. Ema Gi Wari, released in March 2019, represents the stories he heard about the lives, struggles and experiences of these people. The album is supported by India Foundation for the Arts (IFA).

During Akhu's last visit to Bangladesh, he performed four shows at Jatra Biroti in Dhaka, Errante in Chittagong, Manipuri Cultural Complex in Bhanugach and Lamabazar Mandap in Sylhet.

Imphal Talkies and The Howlers was also selected as one of the 33 bands from 33 countries for the compilation project, Album of the Revolution released in UK by Un-convention In Place of War Project.