Hailing from a poor family in Shilong, Lou Majaw was sent to a hostel when he was a child. There is the association of other well off students, his romance with the guitar began there. He got introduced to the music of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley by a friend. And then he got a chance to visit Kolkata, in those the biggest city of the Eastern India. It was in Kolkata that Majaw chanced upon the genius of Bob Dylan. The meeting was mesmerizing, throwing the man into the world of Dylan's music for ever.
So taken in was he by the legendary songwriter-singer that he decided to organise a ‘Dylan’s birthday concert’ in Shillong on May 24, 1972. And that became an annual event, a tradition that remains unbroken even after 37 years. Dylan fans across all over travel thousands of miles just to listen to Majaw and his band Ace of Spades croon, and reconnect with Dylan, the poet.
After over four decades of playing covers, ask him if he will ever tire of Dylan’s songs and Majaw says, “I can’t. His songs have poetic value that is hard to get weary of.” It is such madcap devotion that has earned him the moniker, India’s Bob Dylan.
Known for his signature short shorts and long, silver mane that could give Axl Rose and his kilt a run for his money, the veteran rocker has won many fans not so much for his vocal prowess but for his showmanship, stage antics and swagger.
The life of this maverick guitarist forms the subject of ‘Forever Young,’ a documentary by Ranjan Palit, to be telecast on NDTV’s Documentary 24x7 on May 24. In the film, the 60-plus rocker talks about his fascination for Dylan, whose songs he first heard in 1966. It took Palit, a Film Institute product, six years, 12 visits to Shillong and plenty of determination and dedication to complete ‘Forever Young.’ The engrossing film tracks six years of Majaw’s life, music, passion and philosoph
After all this one is bound to ask how he feels being now respected as a celebrity. He will smile and say, “I’m just a simple guy with no big dreams.”
So taken in was he by the legendary songwriter-singer that he decided to organise a ‘Dylan’s birthday concert’ in Shillong on May 24, 1972. And that became an annual event, a tradition that remains unbroken even after 37 years. Dylan fans across all over travel thousands of miles just to listen to Majaw and his band Ace of Spades croon, and reconnect with Dylan, the poet.
After over four decades of playing covers, ask him if he will ever tire of Dylan’s songs and Majaw says, “I can’t. His songs have poetic value that is hard to get weary of.” It is such madcap devotion that has earned him the moniker, India’s Bob Dylan.
Known for his signature short shorts and long, silver mane that could give Axl Rose and his kilt a run for his money, the veteran rocker has won many fans not so much for his vocal prowess but for his showmanship, stage antics and swagger.
The life of this maverick guitarist forms the subject of ‘Forever Young,’ a documentary by Ranjan Palit, to be telecast on NDTV’s Documentary 24x7 on May 24. In the film, the 60-plus rocker talks about his fascination for Dylan, whose songs he first heard in 1966. It took Palit, a Film Institute product, six years, 12 visits to Shillong and plenty of determination and dedication to complete ‘Forever Young.’ The engrossing film tracks six years of Majaw’s life, music, passion and philosoph
After all this one is bound to ask how he feels being now respected as a celebrity. He will smile and say, “I’m just a simple guy with no big dreams.”
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