Thawaigi Thawai in the album was a romantic anthem to every high school kid in the early 2000s in Manipur. However, critics say that Vol 4 was a dialogue on drug awareness. Doctor and AIDS (Red Bottle) tell horrific consequences of drug abusers. As Manipur lies on the periphery of the Golden Triangle, drug abuse is quite a common phenomenon among youth in the state. And the consequences of injecting drug abusers and sharing of needles in the state have led to the spreading of HIV/AIDS in the region. Tapta’s lyrics without ambiguity hit the issue. In Doctor, a physician directly asks a patient whether he had sexual relation with prostitutes.
Unlike other three previous Volumes, this album could not give a good mass impact. However, Thawaigi Thawai climbed Tapta’s hit list in every live concert performed in the state. While dealing with such a complexed issue like drug abuse and prostitution, Tapta does not forget to add an element of hope in every album. Called it patriotism or social awareness, this series had Eema Amattagi Machani. This number calls for unity of ethnic groups amidst tension over the hills and valley of Manipur. Vol 4 also has at least two passionate love songs. Banita and Tamocha are two melodious songs that talk of a young man’s desperate heart. |