Shweta Punjali श्वेता पुँजाली | |
---|---|
Birth name | Shweta Punjali |
Born | 1985 (age 38–39) |
Origin | Kathmandu, Nepal |
Genres | Bhajan, Nepali Classical, Nepali Adhunik, Pop, Indipop |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 2014–present |
Labels | Shweta Punjali |
Website | www |
Shweta Punjali is a Nepali musician, well known for her debut album Udaan a number of songs from which were nominated at various national music awards. She is also the winner of the Best New Talent award at the 2016 Nepali Music Video Award and was a nominee for Best Newcomer at the 2015 Tuborg Image Music Award.
She sings primarily Nepali Adhunik, a style of singing marked with traditional melodies from the South Asian nation but with an influence of western instruments such as electric piano, guitar, violin and percussion. She also sings bhajan and Nepali classical songs.
Shweta was also a top contestant on a number of national music reality shows Nepali Tara (second season) and Bagina.
Shweta Punjali iprimarily a Nepali Adhunik (Nepali modern/contemporary) singer and her songs generally use western musical instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, violin and percussion. [1]
In addition singing in Nepali language, she also sings religious (bhajans) and classical Hindi, Bengali and Pakistani Punjabi and Urdu songs. She also sings western pop and indipop. [2]
She has trained under the highly respected music teacher Gurudev Kamat at the Nepal Music Centre in both classical and contemporary styles of Nepali singing. [3]
In 2006, Shweta Punjali auditioned for, and was selected as a contestant for the second season of Nepali Tara. She progressed through the competition, reaching the top-20 and then top-10 stages. Until the top-10 stage, decisions on retention or elimination were taken by a panel of judges however, once reaching the top-10, these decisions were taken through popular voting sent in through mobile short messages (SMS). [3] [4]
Shweta was eliminated at rank 7, becoming just one of three female singers to reach the top-10 and the highest ranked female singer that year. [3]
Her song, Ko Pase Chha, composed by noted musician Deepak Jangam and featured in the special Close Up Nepali Tara 2 – Top 10 music CD, was among the top most listened song for that season. While a contestant at Nepali Tara, Shweta performed in numerous Nepali towns and cities, including Pokhara, Dharan, Biratnagar, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Surkhet. She also performed at the finale for that season that saw Santosh Lama win the contest. [3]
Shweta was also a contestant on the Nepali classical music reality show Bagina in 2005. The show aired on Nepal's national TV channel, Nepal TV. [5]
On 4 April 2015, Shweta Punjali launched her debut album Udaan (translated: Taking Flight) in the Nepal capital Kathmandu's Theatre Village. The album was launched by renowned singer Deep Shrestha and the event was attended by the who's who of Nepal's music scene. [5] [6]
The album was also simultaneously launched on iTunes Store, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer and other online music stores. Udaan was also the first mainstream Nepali music album (fully produced in Nepal) to be released online to a global audience. [7]
Udaan includes six songs, all of which are written by noted Nepali poet Durga Lal Shrestha and composed by master composer Nhyoo Bajracharya. [5]
Several songs from Udaan have been nominated for top national music awards, including at the 2015 Tuborg Image Music Awards and the 2016 Nepali Music Video Award. [8] [9]
Shweta won the Best New Talent award at the 2016 edition of Nepali Music Video Award for her song Achamma Lagyo Malai from Udaan. [10]
In October 2015, Shweta Punjali announced that she is working on her second album, which would include songs written by Durga Lal Shrestha and Nepali poet and philosopher Viplob Pratik, and music composed by Nhyoo Bajracharya. [11]
Some of the songs featuring in this album include Aau Na Aau, Maile Palasha and Dekhnu Timilai. [12]
Shweta Punjali has also released few singles by herself or in collaboration with other artists and musicians. Two prominent singles include: Sanchi Mero, a bhajan-inspired song, written by Ratna Shamsher Thapa and composed by Prabhu Raj Dhakal; and Ko Pase Chha, written Gita Pantha and composed by Deepak Jangam. [3]
In addition to performing at various towns and cities of Nepal, Shweta Punjali has also performed in Bangkok, Thailand and in New York City, [13] Connecticut State, United States of America, and performed with musicians such as Nhyoo Bajracharya and singers like Babu Bogati. [3] [4] [11] [12] [14]
Album or Single | Year | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Award or Nomination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ko Pase Chha (Single) [3] | 2007 | Ko Pase Chha | Deepak Jangam | Gita Pantha | |
Udaan [15] | 2015 | Kasto Bhet | Nhyoo Bajracharya | Durga Lal Shrestha | Best Newcomer (Nominated, 2015 Tuborg Image Music Award) [16] |
Achammai Lagyo Malai | Best New Artist (Winner, 2016 Nepali Music Award) [16] | ||||
Best Music (Nominated, 2016 Nepali Music Award) [16] | |||||
Bato Herirahechhu | Best Music Video – Diaspora (Nominated, 2016 Nepali Music Award) [16] | ||||
Aaja Malai | |||||
Sanghuro Bho Bato Mero | |||||
Haraunchhu Ma | |||||
Sanchai Mero (Single) | 2015 | Sanchai Mero | Prabhu Raj Dhakal | Ratna Shamsher Thapa | |
To be announced | 2016 | Aau Na Aau [12] | Nhyoo Bajracharya | Durga Lal Shrestha | |
Dekhnu Timilai [12] | |||||
Maile Palasha [12] | Viplob Pratik | ||||
Documentary/Film | Year | Type | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Under the Blue Helmet: Life as a UN Peacekeeper [13] | 2018 | Short documentary | Voice over for Nirmala Kambang | Uncredited |
Shweta Punjali originally hails from the Nepali hill district of Arghakhanchi. She was born in Palpa and grew up in Pokhara and Bhairahawa before moving to Kathmandu for her master's degree at the Kathmandu University School of Management. [11]
It was at this school that she met her future husband, Vibhu Mishra. They married in 2008. The couple moved to Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2012 and from there to New York City, USA in June 2016. They have one son, Vivaan Ajay. [11]
Vibhu also features in the music video of Shweta's song Bato Heri Rahechhu. [16]
Music of Nepal refers to the various musical genres played and listened to in Nepal. With more than fifty ethnic groups in Nepal, the country's music is highly diverse. Genres like Tamang Selo, Chyabrung, Dohori, Adhunik Geet, Bhajan, Filmi music, Ghazal, Classical music, songs and Ratna music are widely played and popular, but many other less common genres are yet to be cataloged. Western musical genres like Rock, Metal, Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B also regularly feature on the Nepalese music charts. Most of the country's musical bands are based in the Kathmandu valley. Musical genres from Tibet and India have greatly influenced Nepalese music.
Durga Lal Shrestha is a Nepalese poet of Nepal Bhasa and Nepali. He was conferred with the title of Janakavi by Nepal Bhasha Parishad in 2003. He is considered as a progressive litterateur. He was awarded the Jagadamba Shree Puraskar in 2010 for "enriching Nepalese literature by writing very melodious songs, poems, poetry and children's literature in his mother tongue and Nepali language for the last six decades."
Hits FM is a radio station based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is a subsidiary of Hits Nepal Pvt. Ltd., which was established in January 1996. It went on air in April 1996 and is currently available 24 hours a day on 91.2 MHz. Its philosophy is to hire presenters who are "fresh" - thus ensuring originality and also the ability to shape the presenters in accordance to overall goals and objectives of Hits Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
Dol Kumari Karki, professionally known as Tara Devi was a Nepalese singer. She is known as the "Nightingale of Nepal", having recorded over 4,000 songs during her lifetime. Much of her music revolved around the themes of patriotism and love.
Shiva Shankar Manandhar was a singer, music composer of Nepali songs and the chief actor in the first Nepali movie, Aama. For nearly a half century beginning from 1950 to late 1990, his name has probably been mentioned more often in books, journals, lectures and conversations about Nepalese music than any other musicians.
Namrata Shrestha is a Nepalese actress and model.
Poornima Shrestha, is an Indian playback singer. Starting as a child artist, she became a leading playback singer in Bollywood during the 1990s.
Nepali Tara is a Nepali reality television series that debuted on NTV in 2005. The show is a talent contest to decide the best new singer in Nepal based on viewer voting and participation. It's loosely based on British TV series Pop Idol, but is independently produced and is not a licensed adaptation. The first season was conceived by Brazesh Khanal and executed by Neelbarahi Films Studio 4, as the production house, aired in Nepal television. It became immensely popular with the Nepali Television audience. The packaging of the program was unique
Prem Dhoj Pradhan was a Nepalese musician. He was a singer, composer, and regional playback singer. He sang in the two major languages of Nepal: Newari and Nepali. He was also known as the Golden Voice and King of Romantic Melodies of Nepal.
Hidden Treasures Miss Nepal 2012, the 16th Miss Nepal beauty pageant, was held on May 6, 2012 at the Hotel Del Annapurna in Kathmandu. Miss Nepal 2011 Malina Joshi crowned Shristi Shrestha as Miss Nepal World 2012, who represented Nepal at Miss World 2012 with Nagma Shrestha and Subekshya Khadka crowned as Miss Nepal Earth 2012 and Miss Nepal International 2012 who went to Miss Earth 2012 and Miss International 2012 respectively.
Sugam Pokharel is a Nepalese singer, music composer, songwriter, and radio jockey known for his contribution towards Nepali pop music. His first solo recording, Mero Sansaar (2001), became a top seller in Nepal. He gained recognition from the mass, particularly the youths, in the early 2000s, when pop music was not particularly popular among the general public. Because of this, he is seen as one of the most prominent figures in Nepali pop music.
Deep Shrestha is a Nepalese singer and musician. Deep Shrestha is one of the coaches in The Voice of Nepal Season 1 (2018) and 2 (2019). "Jhaskiyecha Maan Mero", "Biteka Kura Le" and "Ma Ta Door Dekhi Aye" are among his popular songs.
Dinesh Subba (Limbu) (Nepali: दिनेश सुब्बा) is a composer, singer and lyricist of Nepali music.
Nhyoo Bajracharya is a Nepali composer, lyricist, and singer. He is widely regarded as one of the best music composers in Nepali music industry. He has composed hundreds of famous songs in Nepali, Newar and Hindi, and one song in Chinese. He is also remembered for his compositions for Ani Choying Dolma with his fusion style music. Some of his hit compositions are Saya Thari Baja Eutai Taal, Shanti Lukau Kaha, Phool ko Aakhama, Laaija Chari, Kya Bore Bhayo, Aadhi Baato Hide Pachi Timi Sita Bhet Vayo, Orali Lageko, among many others. He has also sung some of the songs but he is better known as a music composer. His songs have been sung by Ani Choying Dolma, Ram Krishna Dhakal, Yogeshwor Amatya, Shreya Ghosal and other singers.
Udaan is a Nepali music album launched by singer Shweta Punjali in April 2015. It contains six songs all of which are composed by award-winning Nepali music composer Nhyoo Bajracharya and written by noted Nepali and Newari poet Durga Lal Shrestha.
Nepal Idol is a Nepali reality television singing competition that is part of the Idols franchise created and owned by FremantleMedia. Nepal Idol 2017 is the first season of Idol Franchise in Nepal which aired on AP1 TV.
Kul Prasad Pokhrel was a Nepalese singer-songwriter. He was popularly known by his stage name Cool Pokhrel and he was well known as a pop and folk music singer. He died in 2004, possibly of drug overdose.
Pramod Kharel is a Nepalese singer. He is a versatile singer of the Nepali music industry. He has recorded more than 2000 songs of different genres. He is a coach in The Voice of Nepal for seasons 1 (2018), 2 (2019), 3 (2020–2021) and 4 (2022).
Yash Kumar is a Nepali singer, songwriter, music composer, and actor. He has received numerous awards, including, Best playback singer,3rd Himalayan international Nepali Music Award(Dubai)2020. 4th Epic Nepal Music Award 2079,Best modern singer. AMIN National Music Award 2023, Best Decade Singer. Nepal Music and fashion AWARD 2022. Best Singer. 2nd Silver international Music AWARD 2023(Malaysia) Best Debut actor (NEFTA)2011 from National Film Award. He is also an activist against the untouchability system in Nepal. He has been Honoured by President Ram chandra Poudel with Social service Award on the occasion of constitutional day
Santosh Shrestha is a Nepalese musician, singer and song writer. He was awarded the Natikaji National Music Award by President Bidya Devi Bhandari. He has also made a Guinness World Records in 2020 after performing music in 12 languages of the world. Since 1962, the number of solo albums he has composed has reached 29.