Lost our civic sense: Filmmaker Shirish Kunder reacts to Manipur musician's death

Filmmaker Shirish Kunder has appeared to condemn the death of Manipuri guitarist and music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh, who died after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of men following an argument over noise outside his home in south-east Delhi.Kunder shared a post on X on September 9, criticising what he described as a growing culture of violent entitlement. While he did not name Singh or explicitly mention his death, his comments came in the aftermath of the 55-year-old musician’s death in Delhi.“When a man asks for a little peace and quiet, the mob ensures he gets it permanently. We haven't just lost our civic sense; we've made violent entitlement our only functioning local authority,” Kunder wrote.Replying to his post, an X user wrote, "We can’t empathize with other people’s perspectives anymore. A little resentment from someone, and suddenly we treat them like an enemy."What happened to Chongtham Vikram Singh? According to reports, the incident took place at around 11.30 pm on September 6 in Kilokari village, where the music teacher lived.Singh reportedly came downstairs after noticing a group of men allegedly making noise outside his home. An argument followed after he objected to the disturbance. Police said the situation then turned violent and Singh was allegedly assaulted. Reports stated that Singh was chased towards his third-floor apartment, where the alleged attackers caught up with him and assaulted him in the corridor.His son, Yaiphaba, took him to Holy Family Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.Police have arrested seven people in connection with the case, along with a juvenile. The accused have been identified as Bharat Kumar, Pramod, Ramzan Khan, Deepanshu, Mohan Vishwakarma, Vijay and Mannu.An FIR has been registered under Sections 103(2) and 3(5). Police officials, including the DCP, have met Singh's family and assured them of lawful action.Who was Chongtham Vikram Singh?Singh had spent nearly two decades in Delhi, where he worked as a private music teacher and mentored young musicians. He was also associated with Manipur's early rock music movement and played lead guitar for bands including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark.His connection with the arts went back to his family. Singh was the eldest son of celebrated Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala, who sang in Matamgi Manipur (1972), widely regarded as the first Manipuri feature film.His cousin, filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi, also has a place in Indian cinema history. Her film Boong became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA.The musician, however, built his own legacy through music. After moving to Delhi, he continued teaching and working with musicians while remaining largely away from the public spotlight.Singh's death has triggered grief and anger among members of the Manipuri and wider Northeast communities in Delhi. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety and treatment of people from the Northeast living in other parts of the country.Who is Shirish Kunder?Shirish Kunder is a film editor and director, married to choreographer and director Farah Khan. The couple first met in the early 2000s when he edited her directorial debut Main Hoon Na. They got married in 2004 and welcomed triplets - Diva, Anya, and Czar - in 2008. They have collaborated on several projects, including Jaan-E-Mann, Om Shanti Om and Tees Maar Khan.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 18:06 IST