National anthem writer pens an album

KATHMANDU, March 6: Author of new national anthem Byakul Maila has penned his first album Utsaha, the poet said Thursday.



Musician Shanti Ram Rai has composed music for the album and popular singers like Lasimit Rai, Ram Krishna Dhakal, Rajesh Payal Rai, Jagadish Samal and Abha Mukarung, among others have lent their voices for the seven songs in the album. [break]



“This album is prepared keeping in mind the desire of the people for another creation from a national anthem writer,” the music composer said.



The National Anthem Selection Task Team selected poet Maila´s 47-word song ´Sayau Thunga Phool ka Haami´ as the new national anthem of Nepal in November 2006. The thirty-six-year old poet from Okhaldhunga in eastern Nepal outdid 1,272 other submissions for consideration.



The previous national anthem was scrapped after the popular uprising of 2006 that ousted the monarchy from the power since it had widely been criticized as paeans to the king.






The recording of the new album has been completed and is now under post production. The writer informed that the album will be made available under an unnamed banner within next two months.



Litterateur Byakul Maila’s real name is Pradeep Kumar Rai. He holds a Master´s degree in Public Administration and has penned dozens of songs and poems.



Maila said that his songs in the new album have “characters, circumstances and incidents from our society.”



“The song ‘Gaunle Bhanchhan’ was composed after being inspired by the villagers´ affection toward me when I returned to my home village from the city,” Maila told reporters. “They have so much hope in and expectations of the new generation that I was touched and I tried to express this in the song."



In another incident, he penned a heartbreaking story of family called ‘Kahi Daiva’ sung by Ram Krishna Dhakal.



“A young man died in a dismal condition after falling off a cliff in a remote district when his wife was two-month pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter, who became her only glimmer of hope. Recently I heard that the daughter died as well. I was traumatized by the news,” the emotional songwriter said.



“I think it was rightly said that when sorrow comes, it comes en masse. I penned it tearfully."