Kathmandu, September 30
Lyricist Neer Shah’s Paleti was held last weekend at Nepalaya’s R Sala. The event, coordinated and hosted by musician Aavaas, was divided into three segments.
The first segment featured songs Shah wrote close to themes of life and philosophy, sung by Abhigya Ghimire and Rupak Chaudhary. Seated centre stage, Shah shared memories of working with past artists, growing especially reflective while recalling his association with Narayan Gopal.
He recounted travelling with Narayan Gopal to the Golden Kite World Song Festival, where they learned Narayan Gopal had received the Jagadamba Shree award.
Shah also recalled his friendship with singer-composer Deep Shrestha from their early struggling days performing in restaurants, noting they still address each other by a nickname from that time. He spoke fondly of past televised talent-discovery programs and their role in launching several artists’ careers, and remembered composer Natikaji, calling him a “melody king.”
He recalled singer Prem Dhoj Pradhan’s shy nature, and actor-musician Shiv Shankar. When the host noted the next segment would feature romantic songs, Shah joked about feeling nervous around the word “romantic,” before revealing the next song was one he’d written during his honeymoon, drawing laughter from the audience.
Later, discussing the song written at Danny Denzongpa’s request to reflect the bond between Nepalis at home and abroad, Shah shared a vivid memory of an evening at Narayan Gopal’s home, where Ambar Gurung, Bhupi Sherchan, Bishwambhar Pyakurel and Shah gathered for a dinner honouring singer Aruna Lama.
Shah described the night’s music-filled atmosphere, with Gurung on harmonium and Narayan Gopal on tabla as Lama sang, recalling neighbours gathering at their windows to listen until 4 am, a night Shah called an unforgettable moment in his life.
The program moved through film songs, memories of the “Sangeet Sangam” and “Pratibhako Dabali” talent shows, and closed with a song from the film “Ke Ghar Ke Dera,” with Shah joking that people often wrongly credit him with another song from that soundtrack.
The evening’s musicians included Mohan Rana Magar on keyboard, Buddha Lama on flute, Prabin Pulami Magar on lead and rhythm guitar, Kripesh Lohani on bass, Milesh Tandukar on tabla, and Sundar Kumar Maharjan on percussion.
