SRV's Ujeli escalates YouTube charts

By Mannu Shahi,Born on September 10, 1991, in Kathmandu, Sajjan Raj Vaidya is one of the leading figures of the contemporary Nepali pop industry with prescient vision and abundant contributions that are not only creating history but also shaping the future of the entire music fraternity. The US-based singer, songwriter and composer has actively been publishing innovative Nepali folk tunes fused with modern pop aesthetics for the past eight years curating a staggering 1.15 million subscribers on his official YouTube handle. 

Debuting with “Aaja Matra”, his discography comprises hysterically adored tunes such as “Chitthi Bhitra” with 61 million streams on just the lyrics video, the past year’s banger “Sasto Mutu” with 53 million plays, the captivating “Hataarindai Bataasindai” with 37 million streams, “Mooskaan” with 36 million listens, “Naganya Maya” with 33 million views and the list continues. Amidst his nearly two dozen released singles at least one half of the tunes have surpassed the 10 million plays mark and the rest are also accelerating at a healthy pace.

Many attribute his sensational career to his demonstration of an empathetic, vulnerable and honest storyteller via his songs, compelling more people to resonate with his music on a deeper level and revere all content published by the singer. The catchiest melodic formulas fortifies with soothing lower registered vocal timbre, luscious sounding mixes, minimal arrangements, wrapping the nooks and corners with his heart-warming lyrics. 

Interested in music from an early age, the singer received immense support to pursue his passion from his parents and elder sibling who are all avid music lovers themselves. His parents recall Sajjan Raj Vaidya (SRV) writing poetry during his school days and sending them off to publications for feature columns in Nepali and English newspapers.

His past event organized at Lord  of the Drinks (LOD), Thamel on July 30, 2022, was the grandest and most massively attended in-door concert to take place in the history of Nepali music. The songster was also commended for his performance charge for the event raising the bars higher for many of his contemporaries and the generation next.

And SRV dropped a heart-warming music video for his 23rd single “Ujeli” last Friday, July 21, which has already landed a spot at #8 on trending music in Nepal according to the YouTube charts. The singer writes, “Some days, the world ends. Some days, you have no love in your heart to give. On those days, the ones you love, love you back. The friend is a friend, family becomes family, and they carry your tired arms and legs back to shore.” 

Written and produced by SRV, the audio is mixed and mastered by the phenomenal Binaya Man Amatya (The Project Studios) who is also the live sound engineer for Sajjan’s latest concerts. Similarly, the video is directed and edited by Breezendra with Pratik Shrestha on executive production, Kushal Joshi as the DOP, Abhijan Chitrakar-Phnuyal on the creative direction, Shyam Khadka on production management, Sid Shrestha on assistant cinematography with a presentation by Downtown Flux.      

The very effective friendship story portrayed on the music video compliments the cozy-melancholic song perfectly. Unlike his latest modern pop releases, “Ujeli” sounds more affectionate and profound than his older materials, based in a 6/8 time signature, the dynamic arrangement of the vocal harmonies, rhythm section and melodic guitar/ synth phrases ornament the vulnerable lyrical narrative and make the song an evocative listen each time.