Currently, he’s writing the script of the film “Dastur”. Simultaneously, he’s also writing a book tentatively entitled “Nepali Sangeetko Ek Satak” (A Century of Nepali Music) based on the musical history of Nepal in the 20th century. He’s also working on his upcoming solo album “Simsar” (Marshland). The voices to the songs of the album are provided by such singers as Deep Shrestha, Deepak Kharel, Uday Sotang, Sailesh Singh, and Pratima Rajbhandari.
myrepublica.com caught up with Sayami to talk about two of his favorite lyrics.
The first favorite of Sayami’s is none other than the late “Swor Samrat” Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya’s “Aljhechha Kyare Pachhyauri Timro Chiyako Botama.” This song’s music was composed by none other than the late Gopal Yonjan, and penned by the gifted poet, the late Bhupi Sherchan. The lyricist kept in mind the Nepali diaspora of Darjeeling, especially its Nepali-centric tea industry. Sherchan poetically relays the message that the Nepalis of Darjeeling, among other Nepali diasporas, are Nepali in heart but their identity, fate and destiny are hooked to the roots of their tea plants in Darjeeling itself.
In a localized context, Sayami likes the way Bhupi’s lyric has referred to the life of a young girl after she gets married. Her marriage is a watershed in her life but can’t help her poor parents in any way, she being married away. Sayami says that the situation portrayed in the song is similar to that of Nepal right now. As the young grow up, they leave the country and go abroad to shape up their future. Even though they are attached to their homeland in their own way, they can’t help Nepal in any way. This is why Sayami has affection for the lyrics of this song.
Following the unbeatable song of the legendary trio of Gopal, Narayan, and Bhupi, the other song that has inspired Sayami is Sailesh Singh’s recent “Aunlaharu Chumera.” This song was penned by Bairagi Kainla in Darjeeling – when he was known more as Til Bikram Nembang and a student at the Government College – and the music to this song is provided by Prabin Baraili.
According to Peter J. Karthak, this romantic song was originally set to music as well as sung to by the living legend, Amber Gurung, as long ago as 1963 in Darjeeling. However, unfortunately, it was never recorded, either on tape or disc. As is usual, a lyric can be availed of by other music composers and singers, such as in the case of Baraili and Singh.
In this instance, Sayami thinks the voice of Sailesh Singh has justified the feelings conveyed by Bairagi’s lyrics. This song was influenced by the “Tesro Aayam” literary movement of the early 1960s to infuse Nepali literature with a much-needed dose of intellectualism. This experiment was begun in Darjeeling by Indra Bahadir Rai, Til Bikram Nembang/Bairagi Kainla, and the late and lamented Ishwar Ballabh,
Being a lyricist himself, amongst all the songs he has written, Sayami adores the metaphysics of many Nepali lyrical forms.
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