Kathmandu: Folk singer Rajan Gurung has sung few songs in his life. However, all the songs have been superhits. The songs sung by him have remained in the hearts of Nepali audiences. His hits include ‘Sajhko Bela’, ‘Mai Janmeko Ghandruk Gau’, ‘Akashai Mathi’, ‘Besima Gau, Lekaima Jau’, ‘Samjhna Birsana’, and ‘Uhi Kholima Pani’.
Gurung’s songs feature the lifestyle of village people, culture, original language, and love. He is a singer who sings for happiness and satisfaction rather than exposure. He got into the musical field in 2061 BS. The first song he recorded was, ‘Pari ShItal Banaima, Pirati Lagaune Dhoko Manaima’.
Gurung’s ‘Uhi Kholima Pani’ in Crore Club
Songs sung by Gurung have been watched by millions of audiences on YouTube. Among them, the superhit song is ‘Uhi Kholima Pani’. This song, which was uploaded on YouTube on November 15, 2016, has received nearly 2.5 million views so far, setting a record in the Nepali Dohori with the participation in the Crore Club.
To exchange this celebration, he hosted a special programme attended by many popular people including popular singer Premraja Mahat and Hari Prasad Neupane, the draft coordinator of the National Folk and Dohori Geet Foundation Drafting Committee.
The song also brought honour to music composer Basanta Thapa, music arranger Aashish Abiral, singer Debi Gharti, dangers Karishma Dhakal and Rashmi Tamang, and lyricist Keshab Paudel. Thapa was honoured with a cash prize of Rs 55,555, Abiral Rs 10,000, Gharti Rs 15,000, Dhakal and Tamang Rs 10,000, and Paudel Rs 100,000.
Besides, the song earned more than Rs 5 million from YouTube. Of the money earned from the song, he gave some to everyone in his team as an incentive. They also have to sustain. It is not good that I only should be happy,” he says.
He made this song with the investment of Rs 400,000. This song brought fame and money to him, and he was able to tour various places of Nepal and abroad because of this song. However, he is free of arrogance, and greed.
Talking about his personality, he is a choosy person when it comes to singing a song. He selects songs before singing. In many instances, he declined many offers to sing songs. Earlier, there was no such thing as royalty in music. Now there is earning from YouTube. If you get a stage show, you will earn from that too.
Didn’t you want to make a film?
“I’m thinking about it. But, I’ll make it later.”
He is clear about life. He has no competition with anyone. “I have no competition with anyone else. Your competition should be with yourself,” he says, “The most important thing is our family. External relationships are driven more by selfishness. Money and fake people are the same.”
Foreign travel
Gurung has visited Japan, Korea, Australia, UK, Qatar, Malaysia and other countries so far. He reached the UK for the first time in 2017 as part of a musical programme. He reached the UK for the second time in 2019. “I thought Japan was the cleanest country. Korean food was the sweetest, and it felt pleasure to live in the UK.”
In Nepal, he visited Sindhuli, Hetauda, Phaparbari, Makawanpur, Dolakha, Charikot, West Nepalgunj, Doti, Dadeldhura, Surkhet, Rolpa, Dang, Dhangadhi, Pokhara, and Baglung. His village, Ghandruk, is dearest to him. “There are still many places I would like to visit. I wants to climb Mount Everest.”
Migration to Nawalpur from Ghandruk
He was born in Nawalpur, although his ancestors were from Ghandruk in Kaski. He was brought up in Nawalpur. Paddy, wheat and corn were primary crops grown in Nawalpur. His ancestors migrated to the district lured by its agricultural potential.
Love marriage at 19
Gurung had a love marriage at the age of 19. He got married in Nawalpur. He and his spouse have four children (two daughters and two sons). Their elder son Ajan has completed bachelor’s degree, younger son Prajwal is a plus two graduate. Their elder daughter Prajina studies in grades four and Surjina pursues grade one.
Interest in sports
Gurung was once a member of SK Club, a sports club. He was a striker for the Nawalpur Football Club, and has earned a black belt in karate at the district level. He is also a taekwondo athlete, and plays snooker. Apart from that, he used to organise sports and cultural activities.
He has won many medals in football. He was interested in sports, including athletics, since school. His student Gubhiram Ghale is currently the national coach of Taekwondo in Nepal.
His future plans
He wants to give time to his family. He wants to bring more original and good songs. He is thinking of bringing Gurung language songs to the market. He also wants to devote himself to tourism and agriculture. He dreams of making his hometown, Nawalpur, a tourist center.
He has no love for foreign countries. His aim is to stay back in Nepal and do some business. He believes that young people like us opting for foreign countries means making Nepal a weak country. If he wanted to go to the United States, he would have gone long ago. He in fact declined many opportunities to go abroad.
He does not like to leave Nawalpur for Kathmandu. Love and care shown by the villagers make us forget everything. The greenery of the village is tempting, and there is high amount of oxygen. There is dust and smoke in the city area. “So I prefer villages to city area.”
