10-year-old singing prodigy Jetshen Dohna Lama’s first performance in Nepal

By Mannu Shahi

With an innate aptitude for singing, Jetshen Dohna Lama continues to flabbergast her viewers since her initial appearance at Zee TV’s reality show “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs.” Originally from Pakyong district in Sikkim, India, the child prodigy is applauded by many for her tremendous vocal abilities and dynamic stage performance. 

Proclaimed the winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs Season 9, the singer secured the position after surpassing other finalists: Harsh Sikandar, Dhyaneshwari Gadage, Rafa Yeasmin, Atanu Mishra and Atharva Bakshi. The reality star was successful in magnetising the judges, jury members, guest judges, Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang, CM of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh, prominent boxer Mary Kom and famous footballer Bhaichung Bhutia during the finale. Her influence on the public, especially in the North-East regions of India and the urban spheres of Nepal, is also just as evident.   

Born on April 27, 2013, the ten-year-old singing sensation idolises musicians like Sunidhi Chauhan, Sabin Rai, BTS and Black Pink while she also attributes Disney’s musical animated films like Frozen and Moana to initially sparking her desire for music. The lead female protagonist in the cartoons and the charismatic unfolding of their journey through musical dialogues left a lasting impression on young Jetshen enabling her singing journey at the tender age of three.

Currently a pupil in grade five at El Bethel Academy in Pakyong, Jetshen openly expresses her struggles in juggling both education and reality tv music simultaneously. Although, Li’l Champs isn’t her first exposure to singing competitions as the prodigy had also participated in and won the “Sikkim Idol Season 1 (junior category)” in May 2022. But the rapid pace and fierce competition tired Jetshen and she decided to pursue her musical projects in a rather relaxed manner and focus more on her studies for the time being.

Trained under the guidance of music instructor Nagen Chhetri at Pakyong Music Institute, the singer was also a disciple of Reemanti Rai at Remanti Sangeet Academy, Gangtok. In 2021,  Jetshen also created her official YouTube handle and started publishing live bootlegs, cover tunes and other videos of herself.

The young singer also credits her parents for encouraging her to pursue music from this age and enrolling her in various vocal classes over time. She additionally thanks her mother for helping out in memorizing lyrics to the songs and her older sibling for supporting her in her musical venture. A soft-spoken introverted kid in reality, Jetshen channels rockstar energy and turns into a confident powerhouse as soon as she starts singing which immediately astonishes anyone witnessing her performance and makes them curious for more.  

And this coming Saturday, May 6, Jetshen Dohna Lama is gracing the stage at Lord Of Drinks (LOD) in Thamel, Kathmandu, with her very first-ever performance in Nepal. Organised by Sadhana Kala Kendra, more details on the show can be traced via the institute’s social handles.