KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Kathmandu is a city of opportunities and millions of people come here to follow their dreams. But only a few of them stand out from the crowd and achieve their goals. Chiranjivi Bhandari, 26, a singer and music composer is also among those millions who had come to Kathmandu to pursue his musical journey. Having a religious family background, where his elder brother played harmonium and sang hymns, nurtured his interest in music. However, it was not an easy task for Bhandari to establish himself as musician and singer in the Valley.
“Kathmandu was a new place for me when I came here for the first time in 2008. I had to knock numerous people’s doors requesting them to sponsor my album. I started working as accountant at the Gunjan Recording Studio to sustain in Kathmandu. Moreover, I belong to a middleclass family and I couldn’t ask my parents to invest in my musical career. They thought that Nepali music sector did not have the scope to earn money,” said Bhandari. But he never gave up his dream and collected funds for his album through the help of his friends and by taking tuition classes.
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With his patience and endurance, he finally released his debut album ‘Pirati’ in 2069 BS. During his decade-long musical journey, his song ‘Chatai Mutu Katera’ in the movie ‘Railimai’ helped him make a mark in the industry. Some of his most revered compositions include ‘Jati Najik Hunchhu Ma’ by Shiva Pariyar and ‘Samjhera Feri’ by Pramod Kharel.
Talking about his childhood, Bhandari said he used to take part in various extracurricular activities, especially singing contests, when at school. To hone his skills, he learnt music for four years at the Bageshwori Sangeetalaya, a music institution in Butwal. He likes being called a composer more than a singer. “If a person does not have proper understanding of musical instruments, it wouldn’t be justified to call them a singer. Similarly, a musician should have three qualities- discipline, patience and originality,” he said.
Currently, Bhandari hosts a musical program at the Sandhaya Online TV besides giving training to aspiring musicians.
