Seturam Pradhan

Paras Gazmer was a respected Nepali musician, composer, lyricist, and singer from Darjeeling, celebrated for his emotionally powerful songwriting and his unique ability to translate personal struggle into deeply moving music. Despite losing his eyesight at the age of one and a half due to measles, he rose to become one of the most influential musical voices of the Darjeeling hills.Born in Tindharey, Kurseong in 1962, Paras studied at the Kalimpong Blind School, where he learned guitar and developed his musical foundation. Entirely self‑taught, he composed, wrote, and arranged his own songs, drawing inspiration from lived experience, inner emotion, and the philosophy that “our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.”He gained widespread recognition with his acclaimed albums Sanjha Ko Gham (1993) and Mero Bhagya (1999), both of which left a lasting mark on Nepali music. His compositions often explored themes of longing, hardship, and the inner world of the differently‑abled, resonating deeply with audiences across Nepal, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and the Nepali diaspora.Paras Gazmer performed extensively across the hills and neighboring regions and was honored by various cultural organizations for his contributions. His legacy continues to be remembered as that of a musical icon who transformed adversity into art.

Manoj Khadka is a passionate Nepali lyricist whose words bridge music, emotion, and meaning across generations. While his professional journey spans over two decades, working with renowned agencies such as SAARC, the World Bank, USAID, DFID, American Red Cross, and several other international, inter-governmental, and nonprofit organizations across Nepal, the USA, Africa, and many countries in Asia, songwriting becomes his creative passion — a space where he channels personal expression, cultural reflection, and social insight. His debut song, “Timi Je Bana Udaharan Bana”, performed by Pramod Kharel and Trishala Gurung, is a motivational piece especially cherished by children and educators. Among his most celebrated works is the historic song “Ghazal Unkai Geet Unkai”, which became the first-ever recorded song by three generations of the legendary Ghulam Ali Khan family — a rare and historic milestone in South Asian music history. His lyrical works have been brought to life by Nepal’s most respected voices, including “Gaughar Le Sodhyo Pardeshi Lai” by Ram Krishna Dhakal, “Tejasvi Apsara” by Menuka Poudel, “New York Sahar Ghumna” by Rajesh Payal Rai, and the powerful duet “Sensation” by Ram Krishna Dhakal and Pratap Das. Known for his ability to capture the nuances of romance, social dynamics, and cultural identity, Manoj’s songs resonate deeply with diverse audiences. His commitment to lyrical storytelling — grounded in emotion and cultural context — has positioned him as one of Nepal’s most thoughtful and boundary-crossing contemporary lyricists.

Deep Tuladhar is a legendary Nepali sound engineer, music producer, and playback singer whose career spans nearly four decades. He has worked behind the scenes on over 15,000 songs, shaping the sonic identity of modern Nepali music across genres—from folk and pop to film soundtracks. He is best known for his contributions to iconic films like Balidaan (1997), where he served as a playback singer, and Thuldai (1999), where he worked as a sound recordist and music technician. His technical expertise and artistic sensibility have made him a go-to figure for generations of Nepali musicians and filmmakers. In addition to his studio work, Tuladhar has also released devotional and cover songs, such as Dakshinkali Bhajan and a tribute to Mohammad Rafi titled Ek Haseen Sham Ko. His recent appearance on the Mhendolafole Podcast offered a rare glimpse into his journey, challenges, and the evolution of sound design in Nepal.

Narayan Gopal Gurucharya (नारायणगोपाल गुरुआचार्य) (October 4, 1939 – December 5, 1990), known professionally as Narayan Gopal and N. Gopal  was a prominent popular singer and composer of Nepali music. Regarded one of the most significant cultural icons in Nepal, he is referred as “Swar Samrat” (Nepali: स्वर सम्राट, meaning: Emperor of Voice) in Nepal. He is also known as “Tragedy King” owing to his numerous tragedy songs. He also sang in Nepalbhasa. Owing to his vocal range he was capable of singing songs of every Nepalese genre. Often, his songs were accompanied by the sitar, harmonium and flute. He was also a music director during the 1950s to the 70s and belongs to the first generation of professional Nepali singers. His songs have been showcased in several movies and dramas across the country. Narayan Gopal released 137 songs during his lifetime, his first songs were composed by his friend Prem Dhoj Pradhan and his teacher Manik Ratna. Gopal is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century and received many awards during his lifetime.