Mukesh Shakya

Narendra Bataju Narendra Bataju (died 2018) was a Nepali-born sitar and surbahar virtuoso renowned for his mastery of Hindustani classical music. A disciple of Ravi Shankar, he became an influential cultural bridge between South Asia and Europe through performance and teaching. Key facts Born: Kathmandu, Nepal (year not publicly documented) Died: September 2018, Paris, France Discipline: Hindustani classical (Maihar gharana) Instruments: Sitar, surbahar Based in: Paris since 1972 Early life and training Blind from birth, Bataju began learning sitar at age eight. He pursued formal training for a decade at the Conservatory of Music in Lucknow, India, earning a master’s diploma and two Grand Prizes. His prodigious skill earned recognition from Ravi Shankar, who praised his natural musicality and emotional sensitivity. Career and recordings Settling in Paris in 1972, Bataju performed for the Nepalese royal family and later across European concert halls and festivals, including the Centre Mandapa, the Musée du Quai Branly, and the Festival du Tibet et des Peuples de l’Himalaya. His recordings include Sitar: Râga Kirvani / Surbahar: Râga Gunkali (1975), Les Sitar et Surbahar de Narendra Bataju (1980), and Jog Kauns / Misra Pilu (2006). Collaborations and performances Bataju collaborated internationally, performing alongside the Egyptian oud player Hussein El Masry at Paris’s Cité de la Musique (1996) and appearing at cultural events such as France’s Festival de l’Inde. His cross-cultural work extended to Western artists, including contributions to Symphonie celtique (Tír na nÓg) by Alan Stivell. Legacy Celebrated as a pioneer of Indian classical music in France, Narendra Bataju inspired new generations of European and Nepali musicians through his teaching and emotive performance style. His artistry remains documented in a modest but significant body of recordings and archival radio broadcasts.

Rachana Rimal is one of the new singers in the Nepali musical industry. She is one such singer of Nepal to get a large scale of fans and followers in a short period of time. Many of his songs are coming to the market in a short time. All the songs have won the love of the audience.

Saroj Sajan Shrestha (born on December 28, 1985 as Saroj Kumar Shrestha) is a new face in the Nepali music industry. ‘S3’ (Saroj Sajan Shrestha) which was released on December 25, 2015 is his first album. He is a versatile singer and he has sung songs with semi classical, lok fusion, soft rock flavors for the album. He can also compose and write songs. The album ‘S3’ marks the arrival of Shrestha in the industry. Composers Kalyan Singh and Ishwor Magiya are the composers of the album while the lyricists who have penned the songs for S3 are Ravi Malla, Binu Kchitiz and Prakash Kshanik. ‘Paapini’ and ‘Mayalu Ko Desh’ are his popular songs and it has been included in the album of five songs. Others songs of the album are ‘Timile Farkiyera’, ‘Mahasus Garer Hera’ and ‘Mann Antai’. It was launched by legendry singer Prem Dhoj Pradhan, composer Raju Singh and cover designer Anil Staphit among others. From Phalewas, Parbat, Shrestha was inspired by his late father Ram Prasad Shrestha who was a local musician. He later moved to Kathmandu in 2001 where he took music further. And he officially began his musical journey with the song ‘Mahasus Garer Hera’ recorded in 2013. Music is his life and he can’t imagine life without music. For Shrestha, music is the medium to bring about change in the society.  

Om Bahadur Sunar, popularly known as Om Sunar, is a distinguished Nepali playback singer, composer, and music producer renowned for his contributions to Nepali folk and classical music. Born on March 16, 1987, in Surkhet, Nepal, he has been a prominent figure in the Nepali music industry since 2009. Early Life and Education Om Sunar hails from a middle-class family in Surkhet, Nepal. He pursued his passion for music academically, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tribhuvan University. He is currently advancing his studies with a master's degree in music at the same institution. Musical Career Om Sunar's musical journey commenced with his debut song "Maga Maga Timi K Magchhau Dinchhu Timi Lai Je Magchhau," featured in his first album "Sugandha." Over the years, he has recorded more than 250 songs in both Nepali and Hindi languages. His notable tracks include "Sapne Jo Maine," "Supari Kancho," "Aamaile Bhanthe," "Chandrama Jhai Ramri," "Bariko Patama," "Lahure Sipahi Dai," "Darling," "Adhuro Chhu Ma Timi Bina," and "Buddha Born In Nepal. "Beyond singing, Om Sunar has showcased his versatility by composing and arranging music for over three dozen Nepali films and albums. His expertise spans various genres, with a particular emphasis on folk and classical music. Awards and Honors Om Sunar's exceptional talent has been recognized with numerous awards, including: Best Singer Male at the 3rd Pim Nepal Film Festival (2020) for "Darling" Best Singer of the Year Male (Folk Pop) at the 4th Sagarmatha Music Award (2022) for "Lahure Sipahi Dai" Best Folk Pop Singer (Jury) at the Natyashwor Music Award (2023) for "Columbus Ki Kanchhi" Best Playback Singer at the 4th Nepal Music & Fashion Award (2023) for "Adhuro Chhu Ma Timi Bina" Best Duet Singer at the National Box Office Teej Music Award (2022) for "Bariko Patama" Best Pop Singer at the 3rd Himalayan International Award (2023) for "Yo Man" In addition to these accolades, he has received several honors, such as the National Singer Honor (2020, 2024), Artist & Creator Honor (2022), National Bilakshan Talent Honor (2023), National Film Culture Ratna Honor (2023), National Personality & Talent Honor (2023), Youth Singer Honor (2023), and Spiny Babbler Musicworker Honor (2023). Leadership and Contributions Om Sunar is actively involved in the development of the Nepali music industry. He serves as the President of the Music Research and Development Forum Nepal (MRDF Nepal) and holds honorary memberships in the Film Artists’ worker's Organization Nepal (FAWON) and the Music Video Directors’ Guild Nepal. His commitment to nurturing talent is evident through his role as a judge in various national and international music competitions.