First Manipuri male playback singer no more

IMPHAL, August 19: The first male playback singer of Manipur, Aheibam Budhachandra Singh of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai passed away this early morning at his residence surrounded by family members around 4:30 after a prolonged illness.

Aheibam Budhachandra Singh was 72 when he passed away.  He had survived a heart stroke on December 23, 1996 following which, his health had started to deteriorate.

Born on May 18, 1941 to Aheibam Manikchand Singh and A (o) Pishak Devi, the late Aheibam Budhachandra Singh was an approved singer of All India Radio and his singing career started with the film “Matam gi Manipur”.

He had been a student of Aribam Shyam Sharma and had also remained a tabla student of Loitongbam Manjor Singh and had been associated with Aryan Theatre and Roop Raag.

Throughout his career Aheibam Budhachandra Singh, had bagged numerous awards including the “25 years of Manipur cinema” certificate of honour organized by Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) on 9 April 1996; “Gurudakshina”, awarded by Roop Raag on its 40th year Anniversary 1996-2000 Millennium on August 31, 2000; “Playback Singer of the Millennium” by Bright films Manipur 2000; “Toubimal Khangba Utchaba, 2005” by Apunba Manipur Matam Eshei Kanglup; “3rd Ningshing Mana Pijaba 2007” by S N Chand Ningshing Thouram; “Sangeet Bhushan Na Matam Eshei, 2008” by Manipur Sahitya Parishat; “Meidingu Bheigyachandra Award, certificate of honour, 2008” by Jananeta Hijam Irabot Memorial Trust; “Thoibi Award 2009” by the Cultural forum Manipur; and “Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011” by Nongmaithem Pahari Memorial Trust.