The Week’s Nitya Pandey caught up with veteran singer Deepak Kharel to talk about his life, work and musical journey.
Bijay Rai
Was singing your childhood dream?
Not at all. Initially, I wanted to become a pilot and fly a fighter plane. After passing SLC from Padmodaya, I wanted to study science. But as fate would have it, I forgot my admission card on the day of the entrance exams at Amrit Science Campus. So, I joined commerce at Tri Chandra. Eventually, I got into civil service and then the Finance Ministry.
So how did singing happen?
I’d always been interested in singing. I also used to play the guitar. Whenever I watched a movie, a song would definitely stay with me. It was during 1977-78 that I gave a voice test at Radio Nepal and was selected. “Maile racheka geetharu” was the first song I recorded with the music director, Dwarikalal. After that, I sang “timro tyo haseelo muhaar” in the TU auditorium. I performed it first before going on to record it.
Was it difficult to pursue your passion while working full time at the ministry?
Yes, it was. I had to travel to different places and had very less time for music. Also, the Nepali music scene was quite different back then. Radio Nepal was the sole platform and they gave you only two or three dates in a year to sing. They would play the same song over and over again. But the pay was really low. So, over a time span of a decade, I got the chance to sing very few songs. However, after 1992, I started living in Kathmandu. By then, singers had started getting more exposure and platforms. I brought out about eight albums in the market during that time.
What is the most important thing for you in a song?
For me, melody is very important. I’m also quite selective about the lyrics. Perhaps those are also the reasons why I have sung only a few songs. Another important factor is the mood. My genre is semi classical. I sing modern songs that are neither too classical nor too rustic. I think this is the most popular type of music and I enjoy it a lot.
What do you feel about the old songs being remixed these days?
They’re like fake flowers. They neither have originality nor fragrance. Why tamper with something so lovely and creative that has already been approved and accepted by generations of listeners? I think every age and era should make their own music rather than “remixing” something that’s already been in existence for a long time.
What is music for you?
Music is a drug, an addiction. Do we ever get tired of hearing the birds sing? Music is meditation. Music is devotion. Music is creation. I take it as the most beautiful gift from God. I feel I’m extremely fortunate to have been blessed with a mellifluous voice. I never stopped practicing even though I’ve never had any formal training. It gives me peace and contentment. It brings me closer to the divine. Even the deities are given a musical instrument each. There is Shiva with his Damaru, Saraswati with her Beena and Krishna with his Murali. Music is everywhere and in everything.
Who are your favorite singers?
Narayan Gopal, of course. I’m also a great fan of Talat Mahmood, Mehendi Hassan, Gulam Ali, Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor. I also like Sir Elton John, the Beatles and Michael Bolton.
What is “Aashaya” all about?
It’s my new album. It will be out in the market in about a month. It contains a variety of songs from patriotic to sentimental. Deepak Jangam has composed the music for these songs.
Any dream projects?
Yes, there had been a few at some point of time. I wanted to work with legends like Narayan Gopal, Natikaji and Gopal Yonjan. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, things never worked out. Now, they’re no more. And that chapter and my dream remain incomplete and unfulfilled.
If you had to sing a song by any other singer, what would it be?
It would definitely be “Timro jasto mutu mero pani” by Narayan Gopal. I’d also sung it at his memorial program.
What difference do you feel between that first concert at the TU auditorium and this solo performance at Paleti?
Times have changed. The audience has changed. And so have I. I’ve grown older and wiser. I was just a beginner at that time. Now, the people who will listen to me will know what to expect. I’ve been to Paleti before. And I know that the people there are open and encouraging. Of course, the pre show jitters are there but I’m super excited about the evening. Music, after all, is always music. And if it’s good, it’s always
enjoyable.
Do you have any message for the present day singers and audience?
We’ve extremely talented people in the music field at the moment. The outlook is positive and progressive. Music is a precious gift, a blessing. I request you all to take it seriously and treat it with love and reverence. Every kind of music has its own crowd and every kind of crowd had its own musical taste. But we must learn to differentiate between good music and noise pollution. It’s good to be inspired but certain flavor of originality should be maintained. I wish everyone all the best. And I believe we can all take Nepali music to international arena and scale new heights of success despite the linguistic and geographical boundaries.
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