Sajjan Raj Vaidya’s Dhairya trending as Number 1 

By Mannu Shahi

Sajjan Raj Vaidya is a US-based singer/songwriter, composer and producer publishing innovative Nepali folk tunes fused with modern pop flavours for the past eight years. With a staggering 52 million streams in his most famous tune ‘Chitthi Bhitra’, the singer has 971,000 subscribers on his official YouTube channel. 

Initiating his career with the debut ‘Aaja Matra’, his big break chaperoned along the release of his second single ‘Hawaijahaj’, the video made in collaboration with Fuzz Factory Productions has 25 million plays till date. And things have only escalated thereafter as his songs started getting more personal and honest, which led to more people resonating to his music on a much deeper level and revere all content published by him. 

The singer’s fourth single ‘Chitthi Bhitra’ released with just an official audio continues to transcend stream surmise in a pattern almost never occurring in Nepali musical algorithms. While most creators lure followers thorough eye-attracting, high budget videos, this is where Sajjan distinguishes by entailing the narrative for the ears, pleasure of listening, honest attachments and soul soothing affectionate ear-treats. 

Similar was the case for his sixth single ‘Mooskaan’, which again was published with only a lyrical video yet surpassing an astonishing 32 million plays on his official Youtube channel. The follow-up track ‘Hataarindai, Bataasindai’, being the first ever Nepali music video to openly portray a queer relationship acquired Vaidya even further support and appreciation from a wide array of listeners, marks 34 million views at present. 

The singer hit another milestone with his 12th single ‘Phutki Jaaney Jovan’ encompassing 16 million streams, 16th single ‘Naganya Maya’ with 22 million plays and ‘Sasto Mutu’ assimilating 34 million views till date. Even his recent Nepal tour was deemed as one of the largest attended concerts performed by a single Nepali act at an indoor venue in recent years. The first show of this year’s Nepal tour leg was held at Lord Of Drinks (LOD), Thamel on July 30, 2022, and the tickets were immediately sold out resulting in over 2000 attendees for the event.

‘Dhairya’, Vaidya’s 19th single released on October 21, 2022, is a presentation of Downtown Flux currently #1 on trending for music amidst Nepal moderated Youtube broadcast. Written, produced, mixed and mastered by Sajjan Raj Vaidya, the official audio features Manish Gandharva on sarangi. However, the video, directed by Breezendra, showcases tour clips from the recent gigs and thus portrays the entire band comprising of Ashesh Rai on percussions, Chhitij KC on drums, Diwas Gurung on guitars, Manish Gandharva on sarangi, Prajwal Lama on keyboard, Sahil Uprety on bass and Sandesh Koirala on back vocals. 

Kicking off with multi-layers of sarangi harmonies leading up to some muffled vocal lines, warm acoustic intro guitar plucking paves way for the verse. Signature Vaidya vocals sweep away the listeners’ heed with its earnest, cosy texture; the video also showcases the audience devouring their love for the music and the amalgamation of energies of both the performers and spectators losing themselves in the moment. Romantically charged emotional lyrics, gratifying outro melody enriched with spacious rhythmic works and affectionate captures of the band make the entire tune a heart-warming watch.