Revisiting Music After Two Decades

Started as a promising singer, Ale remained of the music industry for a long time depriving the fans of her melodious songs

By THAKUR AMGAI

As a little shy girl in Jhapa, who mimicked the popular songs of the era in solitude, avoiding listeners, she had never envisaged that she would come out of her shyness and could sing in a studio or on a stage enthralling a large group of audience.

Ale : Melodious life

Had it not been for her husband late J. B. Ale's consistent persuasion, perhaps she would have remained a singer for herself only even today.

As her habit was, Ale used to sing the songs she liked whenever she was left alone. She sang songs like Goli Rahechha Sansar Marimeteko', 'Timilai Jani Jani Marimeteko Hoina' and 'Timilai Maile Pheri' – popular songs aired from Radio Kharsang, every morning and evening, while cooking meal, with the 'background music' of the burning kerosene stove.

On noticing this, one fine morning her husband sneaked into the kitchen with a recorder. Before she knew anything, Ale's singing voice was recorded and taken to Radio which later took her through the voice test.

However, it was not easy for shy Kabita to sing. J. B. Ale, who himself is a songwriter and collector of folk songs, used to assist his wife in all aspects of singing from choosing the song to recording. At the time, when sound editing facilities were not available as these days, Kabita would spoil the recording several times thanks to the shyness and nervousness.

When she did manage to record some songs, the word of her flair for singing soon spread through the music fraternity. And when she recorded songs like 'Uthi Khar Kataun, Basi Khar Kataun' and 'Jhyammai Chautari, Maya Laun Bhane Chhaina Dauntari', Kabita Ale instantly became a household name in rural and urban areas. She was seen as a promising singer and the listeners expected scores of other songs in her voice. Fans thronged to stage programs where she performed.

In one contest at Radio Nepal in 2035 (Bikram Era), Kabita sang three songs, one solo and two in groups and all three songs stood first, second and third. The next year she, along with her friends, were preparing to produce an album of folk songs. "Of the twelve songs to be recorded, I had completed recording four songs," said Ale. "Unfortunately, after having practiced thoroughly for several months, I was trapped in a family affair and virtually could not spare any time for recording the remaining songs."

Such incidents where she had to abandon recording because of household matters repeated a few times again. This made her frustrated. She laments, "Music is such a beautiful thing in which everyone would like to be involved. For some one with a proven good voice and skill and who has already sung a couple of songs, it is very painful, if she cannot give continuity to music because of disturbing factors."

In the subsequent years, she was engaged most of the time in her husband's business of photography. She did, but sang very few songs and appeared in no stage programs.

After hibernating for almost two decades, now Kabita Ale has started to be seen in public. When she traveled from Mechi to Mahakali in the 'Peace Music Rally' in 2058 and performed at various places, the audience were pleasantly surprised to see their revered but unexpected singer on the stage. She is working on a project to bring out a new album with nine songs. She has performed old duets with her son Kranti Ale, who has also become a singer now, in a couple of stage programs, and started acting in tele serials and feature films.

"Although I was offered to act during the beginning of my musical career, I was too ashamed to do so then," says Ale. A photographer by profession, she probably did not feel comfortable to face the camera. She has acted in feature films 'Bandhaki', 'Maina Raja Maina Rani' and many tele serials including 'Maha Chautari', 'Virus', 'Mod', and 'Hospital', among others.

Ale who has sung over 300 songs including folk and some modern songs is honored with 'Bhupal Man Singh Karki Youth Award', 'Birendra Aishwarya Sewa Padak' and 'Master Mitrasen Award' and felicitated by several organizations at different occasions for her contribution to Nepali music and lately cinema.