Kathmandu, Sept 10: Veteran singer and musician Phatteman Rajbhandari, regarded as a living legend in Nepal´s music industry, breathed his last at 12:50 am Tuesday at Om Hospital, Chabahil, where he was undergoing treatment for lung cancer (third stage) since September 1. He was 77.
Nepalis all over the world posted condolence messages on social media throughout the day. Rajbhandari´s songs uploaded on YouTube have gained a new momentum, as listeners continue to post their messages as comments. [break]
Only last April, at the ´Phatteman Sumadhur Sanjh´ organized at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi by Rotary Club of Mount Everest Lalitpur, Rajbhandari had enthralled the audience with his hit numbers as well as songs originally sung by the late Narayan Gopal. At the program, lyricist Rajendra Thapa remarked, “Phatteman dai doesn´t sing the songs, the songs sing his glory instead.” At the same program, lyricist Kali Prasad Rijal said, “Phatteman Rajbhandari represents a generation in which music was a dedication; his regular commitment to music makes him an exemplary artist for the young generation.”
Rajbhandari maintained a low profile after his debut solo performance at the International Convention Center, New Baneshwar in 2002. Then nepa~laya featured him along with Ambar Gurung, Shanti Thatal and Aavaas in the first edition of its annual music festival, Paleti Utsav in August last year. It was a brilliant comeback for the celebrated vocalist.
Speaking to Republica then, Rajbhandari said, “It´s hard to believe it´s been 10 years since I performed my debut solo. I was 67 then and many didn´t believe I could still sing. I´m 77 now and still singing because of that motivation from nepa~laya.”
Kiran Krishna Shrestha, team leader of nepa~laya, vividly remembers Rajbhandari´s anxiety when he was offered inclusion in Paleti Utsav. “He was constantly stressed during rehearsals, but none of that was apparent when the show finally kicked off. The audience was mesmerized. He was in excellent form,” Shrestha reminisces.
Born into the priestly Rajbhandari clan on November 28, 1936, with close links to Pashupatinath Temple, Phatteman started singing at age seven, drawing inspiration from his father. Initially he sang hymns at the temple and went on to Radio Nepal in BS 2018. There was no looking back since then. He devoted over six decades to music, with over 400 songs and hymns to his credit.
Rajbhandari´s evergreen singles like ´Marna baru gaaro hunna´, ´Sannaniko gaalaima kalo kothi raichha´, ´Yesto pani hudo raichha jindagima kahile kahile´ and ´Rato ra chandra surya´ are equally popular with his contemporaries and the younger masses.
Composer Aavaas, who composed for his album ´Phatteman Sattarima´, remembers Rajbhandari as ´one of the most sincere vocalists of his generation´. “He belonged to the first generation of Nepali modern music, and it´s a great loss to the music fraternity. He was quite active in the music scene, still performing live till last year. No one can replace him,” Aavaas says. He believes Rajbhandari was one of the very few artistes in Nepal, always bringing out the aesthetic value of music rather commercializing it.
Similarly, contemporary vocalist and composer Amber Gurung remarks, “He was one of the friendliest and most charming persons I´ve come across. It´s was wonderful working with him. There are only good things I can say about him - professionally as well as personally. I, and the whole music fraternity will forever miss him.”
Rajbhandari is survived by his wife Jamuna, two sons and three daughters.
His warmth as a person and the unique texture of his melodius voice shall be remembered and missed always.
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