Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday presented the Meghalaya ‘Icon of the Year’ award to Shillong-based rapper Rebel at the Hello Meghalaya Music Awards on World Music Day. Rebel, the stage name of rapper Dhyavi Lamarre, who appeared on the soundtrack of the Bollywood film Durandaras a symbol of Meghalaya’s growing presence in India’s mainstream entertainment industry.
Against this backdrop, Sangma has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the state into a national hub for music, filmmaking and digital content creation.
Speaking at the inaugural Hello Meghalaya Music Awards, he announced plans to set up a film city and film institute in Shillong, along with a music institute in Tura, with the aim of creating a strong ecosystem for artists, filmmakers and content creators.
“We want Meghalaya and Shillong to become recognized centers for music, film making and the entire creative economy,” Sangma said, describing the proposed institutions as important investments in the future of the state.
Reble is known for its distinctive rap style and contemporary sound. She represents a new generation of artists from Meghalaya who are leveraging digital platforms and original content to reach audiences beyond the Northeast.
Its connection to Durandar She has brought national visibility not only to her music but also to a rich pool of creative talent emerging from Meghalaya. For many aspiring artistes in the state, her journey underscores the growing opportunities available to musicians from the hills.
The Prime Minister stressed that programs that support young musicians, filmmakers, athletes and entrepreneurs are not just government expenditures but long-term investments in people and talent.
“These are not expenses,” he said, “they are investments in people, in dreams, in creativity, and in the future of our youth.”
State-backed Hello Meghalaya OTT platform, which was launched in 2024, has played a key role in nurturing local talent. The platform has crossed five thousand downloads and now hosts over 1,000 pieces of content, supporting over 380 creators and filmmakers while bringing the stories of Khasi, Garo and Jaiñtia to wider audiences.
Sangma also highlighted the success of the CM’s folk music programme, which now supports over 7,000 artistes across Meghalaya.
As the state expands its investments in music, films and digital content, Rebel’s journey from Shillong’s music scene to one of Bollywood’s biggest soundtracks stands as a testament to the growing strength and confidence in Meghalaya’s creative economy – and to the potential for the next national sensation to emerge from the hills.
