Chiranjivi aims to dive deep into Nepali music industry

BY RENUKA DHAKAL, Kathmandu, Aug. 9: Chiranjivi Bhandari, who has been active in the music industry for one and a half decades, had been fond of singing since his childhood.

Every time he listened to a new song came on the radio,  he felt an irresistible urge to sing it along. From a  young age,  he showcased his talent at local events and school programmes. Observing his passion for music,  his teachers and friends encouraged him to consider a career in the musical field. His passion for singing led him to the musical realm,  marking his debut performance on stage in 2005.

He honed his skills under the guidance of  Suresh Century at Bageshwori  Sangee-talaya in Butwal for five years. Around this period,  he released his first album,  ‘Maya  Pirati’.He said that the journey to bring his music to life was like stepping up to the plate every day for him.  He would often commute between Butwal and  Kathmandu to record his tracks.

His first song titled  ‘Aauna  Maya  Lama’  written by Tej Prasad Pandey and composed by Arjun Pokhrel, not only got recorded but also had its music video released for local audiences. Determined to launch the album and make an imprint in the  Nepali music fraternity, Chiranjivi decided to make the journey from  Butwal to  Kathmandu. 

Carrying his harmonium, he embarked on this musical journey. His unwavering commitment came to fruition in 2013 with the release of his first solo album, ‘Maya Pirati’.

“Living in  Kathmandu was challenging for me as I was only acquainted with a handful of individuals from the music sector,” he said.  He embarked on his new journey at  Gunjan  Recording Studio in Anamnagar. Working at the recording studio, he learned music under the guidance of Ram Sitaula for two years in Kathmandu.

“Two transformative years of music lessons not only honed my skills but also brought me in contact with prominent figures in the music world and it became more rewarding,” he said. Over the years, he collaborated with renowned vocalists such as Anju Pant, Milan Newar, Melina Rai, Eleena Chauhan and Rachana Rimal.

Along with singing he also started composing the music. Popular singers like Shiv Pariyar,  Pramod  Kharel,  Shashi  Bikram Thapa and Suraj Paudel have lent their voices to his music composition. His voice found its way to the silver screen with tracks like  ‘Chattai  Mutu  Katera’  for the 2016 movie ‘Relimai’, and ‘Jhanaputung’ for ‘Deep Jyoti’ film in 2017.

He said that after the song ‘Chattai Mutu Katera’ from the movie ‘Relimai’, he began receiving offers to sing at numerous fairs across Nepal. He released his second modern album,  ‘Chahera  Matra’  in  2014, and his third, Folk Modern ‘Sannani’ was launched in 2016.

To date,  he has lent his voice to over 100 songs, with hits like ‘Sannani Sunana’, ‘Badamash’, ‘Mana Ta Yo Harami’, ‘Timro Mayale Maryo Malai’, ‘Paisa Phyaak Tamasa Dekha,    Rupaki Rani’ among them.

Additionally, he has ventured into spiritual music, releasing Bhajans dedicated to Lords Krishna and Shiva, and Hanuman, including the powerful Shiva Tandava Stotra. He considers himself a disciple of Lord Hanuman and plans to release five songs, including Bhajans.

For his dedication to music, he received multiple accolades including ‘Best  Male   Singer at the  2nd  Jyoti  Films  Music  Award, Best Pop Singer at the 3rd Boster  Entertainment  Awards,  7th   National   Capital   Award,   Best  Modern  Singer at the  3rd  National   Sadhana   Music   Award and more. He  is  determined  to  pursue  his  musical  journey   with   fervour,  prioritising  quality      music      over     fleeting     viral trends