Folk singer Koirala working on 21 songs

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Aug. 17: Veteran folk singer Hari Devi Koirala is too busy these days. She is working on music videos of 21 songs. Among them, 16 are old and four new.

Some of her popular audio songs will now be available in the form of music videos soon. 

"This is the age when people prefer to watch songs. It is necessary to make music videos to preserve the songs that were previously released on cassettes and hand them over to the next generation," she said.

Koirala plans to reach the audience through the YouTube channel she opened two months ago.   "There is no return from the investment in songs. But that cannot stop me from following my passion for creation. The attachment to my songs is akin to that of a mother to her child," she said.

Targeting this year's Teej, she has released two new and three old music videos of Teej songs. ‘Pyauli Joban’ and ‘Chhora Chhori Hurke Badhe’ are her new Teej songs.

"Before Teej, the music videos of five Teej songs are coming to the audience. “Every year I bring some original songs for Teej. But what saddens me is the growing vulgarity in Teej songs which blatantly encroach on our culture," she said. 

"Songs should be decent, simple and heart touching and should speak Nepali life," she added.

Among the songs that are going to be released in the form of music video is the famous 'Paina Khabar'.  There are four new folk songs and 12 old ones. Some popular songs, like ‘He Rajai Piara,’ ‘Sitara Rakheko Dori,’ ‘Jaun Hida Relaima,’ and ‘Relaiko Jhyalaima,’ will also available on her YouTube channel.

Words, music, and singing in all these songs are Koirala’s own. Renowned singers like Purushottam Neupane, Ambar Birahi Gurung, Narayan Rayamazhi, Premaraja Mahat and others have lent their support to the duet songs. The music videos were shot in twenty days in and around the Pokhara Valley. Vasudev Pokharel has directed the music videos.

She informed that about 100 songs of her are yet to be made into music videos. "I have done this work from my own investment and management. This has to be done to protect the songs and to reach the wider audience," said Koirala.