One more time the true Nepali modern music aficionados in Kathmandu will get to listen to some of the finest Nepali modern songs of the 1960s and 1970s as Pradhan is all geared up to bring his yesteryears’ nostalgia to his audience.[break]
Having contributed so much to Nepali music in the past decades, Pradhan today sits disappointed looking at the “fast food” generation, who according to him have “destroyed” the true feeling of Nepali modern music.
Fitness first
For the last two decades, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, 72, has been following the same routine to keep himself fit. Waking up at 5:30, he takes on some regular exercise and pranayams for an hour, followed by another hours walk. By 8:30 he is back home for breakfast. As the clock hits 9, he sits in front of his harmonium to rehearse alaps and ragas for one hour. He then scans through the national dailies headlines. Now retired from his job at the American Library, he spends the rest of his day watching various genres of movies.
“Watching movies is a hobby from childhood. During my job at the American library I could not watch as many as I wanted. And because I was also continuing my singing career, I hardly had leisure time to watch films. Now, I have plenty of time for films, Animal Planet and National Geography channels,” the prominent singer unveiled.
The musical journey
Unlike many children of his age, Pradhan wasn’t lucky enough to grow up under the care and love of both his parents. They separated when he was still a tender teen. He lived with his mom after. The financial condition at home mandated that he start work earlier than others.
Despite passing out with an “A” grade in Radio Nepal’s voice test in 1954, he did not get a job there. This left him disappointed for sometime. But because he had to support his family, he had no option than to work. To his own surprise he landed a fulltime job at the American Library in 1959 and continued until he retired a few years ago.
“My first salary was Rs 75. That was huge money then. Thank God for the job. It changed my life for good. To earn Rs 75 back then meant a lot,” he smiled as he sat to recall his heydays.
Though he did not get to work for Radio Nepal, he did not give up music. As he earned better than his friends, it wasn’t difficult for him to record albums.
In due time, he befriended musicians and singers like Bachchu Kailash, Manik Ratna and Narayan Gopal.
In nostalgic reminiscences he recalled, “It was I who introduced Narayan Gopal to Radio Nepal. He, Kailash, Shiva Shanker, Manik and I often used to play together. We were really good friends and never envied each other’s success. Did you know that Narayan Gopal actually used to play tabla at programs before he became a phenomenal singer?”
He elaborated emotionally, “Most of them have left me with only memories to cherish. Bachchu and I still hang out at times. I still remember how we, along with Nati Kaji Shrestha and Yogesh Vaidya used to arrange dry picnics once every month.”
In 1965, this man of melody got the opportunity to record a song in Mumbai, then Bombay, for “Maitighar,” the first movie made under a private company’s banner. He sang a duet number with Usha Mangeshkar, the sister of Lata Mangeshkar. He was one of the few to sing to the composition of veteran music composer Jaidev.
In 1967 he gave his first solo concert at Rashtriya Nach Ghar, which continued for three consecutive days. By then, Pradhan had already established himself as a promising singer. Songs like “Goreto Tyo Gaunko,” “Ghumtima” and “Maya Namara Mayalu” had already bestowed on him a deserving space in the mushrooming Nepali music industry. From then on, there was no looking back.
Up next
“I’ve already given my share to the industry. At the age of 72, I’ve no desires of becoming popular by recording an album,” said he and added, “I’m however disappointed with the new generation of singers in the Nepali music industry who take music very lightly. While we’ve extended our arms to western culture and lifestyle, we have sadly forgotten the roots of our own culture. The biggest tragedy is we no more prioritize lyrics in songs and this is why numbers produced today live for a shorter period of time. It’s high time to realize our loopholes or else it’ll be too late to regret.”
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