KATHMANDU, June 17: Premdhoj Pradhan, 77, is known for introducing romanticism into the Nepali music scene. “However, I’m not a romantic when it comes to my personality,” shares Pradhan who was at the nepa~laya office in Anamnagar to rehearse for the Paleti concert which is scheduled to take place on June 22 at the Wesley Theatre in Sydney in Australia.
Republica catches with up with Pradhan for a musical tête-à-tête.[break]
You’ve been featured in Paleti back in 2008 and 2010. How would you describe the Paleti experience?
When nepa~laya approached me for Paleti for the first time, it had been about 15 years that I had stopped singing for audiences. But I came to observe Paleti, nonetheless and after seeing the small size of the audience, I agreed. I feel that the Paleti audience is very attentive listeners who give the artist on stage, a lot of love.
Are you excited about Paleti in Australia?
Yes, this would be the first time that I will be performing with an entourage in a foreign country. I will sing about a dozen of my most popular songs.
You have more than 650 songs to your name. But which songs do you think best represent the person that you are?
I’ve sung patriotic songs, bhajans, songs in Nepal Bhasa as well as songs for films. I think people know me best through my songs such as ‘Goreto tyo gaun ko’ and ‘Namanaa laaz yesari’. I feel that even the younger generation like ‘Ghumti ma na aau hai’, which is another popular song of mine.
When was the first time that you performed on stage?
That was when I was about nine years old. It was nothing huge. I was a part of this eight-day musical during Indra Jatra. I played the role of a girl. One of the actors was initially supposed to play that role, but he fell ill and I substituted. I did a little bit of singing in Nepal Bhasa and that was my first experience of performing.
Between singing in Nepali and in Nepal Bhasa, which one do you prefer?
Singing in Nepal Bhasa is relatively easy. I find that in Nepal Bhasa songs, the lyrics and the rhythm gel very well. Perhaps because Nepali language has Sanskrit influence, the same isn’t the case when singing Nepali songs. I’ve sung a lot of Nepali songs. ‘Rajamati’, for example, is a song that I sang for the movie of the same name. I’ve performed that song, on a stage, for over hundred times.
Your musical inspiration?
My mother. She taught me how to play the tabala, which is the second instrument I learnt to play, after the harmonium.
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