Sister act celebrates life

O Rhosi, Rhosi/Do she mori do kudatele/Uhelü he, lohe li a zho/O Rhosi! Rhosi! Rhosi (O Rhosi! Celebrate the rebirth of a new earth every spring/Life rolls out with song and dance. Like Nature moving to the tunes of the wind, Let us all join the rhythm of life. Revel in being alive/O Rhosi! Sing a new song with the tati, A song of the winds of changing times and good fortune)

As Rhosi — a wild flower found in Nagaland’s Phek district — blooms to usher in spring, Tetseo Sisters’ tati joins the rhythm of life. “It (Rhosi) signifies youthfulness and beauty, the charming, energetic and vibrant time of one’s life,” the Tetseo Sisters say while describing their song in Chokri, the dialect spoken by the Chakhesang Naga tribe.
The sisters, Alüne (Lulu), Kuvelü (Kuku), Mütsevelü (Mercy) and Azi Tetseo, are the young singing sensation from Nagaland’s Phek district.
The sisters’ unique style of singing and flamboyant performance on stage using folk instruments are taking the Tetseo Sisters’ popularity beyond the region.
In fact, the sisters, who are not conversant with Hindi, have also performed for Bollywood Republic, a short musical show by Bindass Play. The sisters’ rendition of the song Barso re from the movie Guru, which has folk music arrangement and fusion of Chokri song, is a winner.
“The episode we did with Bindass Play was good fun. Barso re is such a beautiful song and we were delighted to get to play with it and mix our song Ohe with it. Rain is such a happy theme and the final product came out lovely. We are very proud of it,” says Mercy.
The sisters say music can traverse all boundaries, even of language, and it is a strong medium to reach out to the strangers in the audience.
“People’s ignorance about the North East often makes them curious about those from the region and their culture. However, their outlook is changing and we believe music can play a key role in bridging the gap,” says Mercy.
Culture, say the sisters, is changing with time as it is influenced by so many external factors and so improvisation is a necessary factor. “With time we have become more confident as performers and open to ideas,” says Lulu, who is studying medicine in Maharashtra. She says the sisters listen to folk songs of different languages.
The sisters started singing at an early age and were trained at home. They started the music band when they were in school. Their mellifluous voice and perfect synchronisation transform a listener to the idyllic natural setting of Nagaland.
“I feel most of the people in our clan have a positive outlook and get attracted to joyfulness and energy of life. Also, Chokri is poetic and that makes the songs beautiful even to those who do not know the dialect,” say the sisters.
The all-woman band, which is considered the musical ambassador of Nagaland, uses native instruments like tati (one-string instrument), khro khro (gourd shaker filled with beads), drums and bamhum (wind instrument made with bamboo) as part of their compositions of Li, or folk songs, and Tsate.
Mercy, looking ethereal in her traditional skirt and shawl and beaded necklace, says the songs that the sisters perform talk about varied subjects, from love, harvesting, folklores to nature. “Chakhesangs have songs for every occasion. We improvise some of the old songs and they are well-received by people not just in the North East but also outside of it,” says the Tetseo sister.
However, they point out that singers from the North East do not often get the right platform but with time, “promotion of northeastern music has increased attracting a motley crowd from across the country”.
The British were the first foreigners to come to Nagaland. Their entry into the Angami and Chakhesang territory had a far-reaching impact on the indigenous people. They explored the Chakhesang area in 1902. By 1923, some of the Chakhesang villages were brought under direct British rule. Following the outbreak of World War II (1938-1945), the Japanese invasion into the Angami and Chakhesang territories had disastrous consequences.
Despite the historical upheavals, the tribals in this part of Nagaland have protected their tradition and culture. Young artistes like the Tetseo Sisters are taking it forward through their folk art forms.
“It is the responsibility of every individual, especially the youth, to be the ambassador of his or her society when outside of the state. Everyone should preserve and promote his or her culture. We too are duty-bound and that is what we are doing,” is Kuku’s nonchalant reply when asked how difficult it is for the band to live up to the expectations of listeners.
On fusion music, Mercy says as musicians, “we like to explore and grow and fusion is something we have been spearheading so yes, we will continue to explore folk fusion and other genres as well while staying true to our forte”.
So can the mainland expect the beautiful ladies to mesmerise them with their songs in Bollywood?
“Bollywood or Hollywood, wherever there are options for growth for us as musicians, we will grab the opportunity if it comes to us. Unfortunately or fortunately, Bollywood, while stereotypical in many ways, is also the biggest platform with a countrywide audience so it cannot be ignored. We cannot blame Bollywood for being narrow rather we can use it to create awareness and also get the masses introduced to new things,” adds Mercy.
~ NM