NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Tunes Of Talent

Newcomers dominate this year's music awards, marking the emergence of a fresh breed of artistes

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

The last couple of years have spawned a new species of fiercely talented artistes. These energetic youngsters are engaged in a pop-song phenomenon that has caught the attention of the country's mainstream musicians as well.

Ram Thapa (Right) winging with Tara Thapa : Electric performance

Nabin Bhattarai, the quintessential pop heart-throb, has recorded a film song. Ram Krishna Dhakal and Yam Baral have been doing so for long and with great success. Sharmila Bardeba has emerged as a melody queen. She juggles equally successfully between pop songs and mainstream film numbers.

So, when this year's Music Awards ceremony was organized by Hits FM under the sponsorship of Nepal Lever Limited, everybody sat up and took notice. And, as expected, it was the newcomers who stole the show. From the category of Album of the Year to the Record of the Year and Best Vocals, most of the awards were bagged by new faces.

Hits FM network has been holding the music awards ceremony annually for the last five years. The first such award established by the private sector, the Hits FM Music Awards are getting wide attention for its fair and impartial selection. "Awards like these go a long way in motivating youngsters like us," said a pop singer.

Besides giving away the awards, Hits FM also honored a number of senior music personalities like Kumar Basnet, Prakash Shrestha, Ram Thapa, Mira Rana and Chetan Karki. Senior singers like Basnet, Thapa, Rana and Shrestha even performed on stage to the amusement of the viewers. Basnet's old pop-folk song of "diunla yo joban.." and Thapa's duet with Tara Thapa "quarter quarterma." drew encores from the crowd.

But perhaps it was the year's sensation Khem Raj Gurung who drew maximum encore with his hit "Ekadasi bazaraima.." Gurung's folk dance number even made the crowds clap and dance. That apart, the performances by the band "1974 AD" and singer Sunil Bardeba were quite impressive.

One of the most popular and respected musicians of the country, Ambar Gurung, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. His songs are regarded as some of the best-ever produced by the Nepalese music sector.

According to Hits FM, it had selected five nominations under each discipline based on the list it received from its audiences. A selection committee made the final decision of awarding the prize to the first one in each category.

Apart from award distribution, this year's ceremony was also noted for quality technological display. The lights and sound system were of high standard and so was the entire stage performance. Credit goes to the Hits FM family for producing such a quality show with regularity.

Winners

Best New Entry (Debut): Jagadish Samal

Best Female Single Vocal (Pop): Sharmila Bardeba for "Anna Jokhne.."

Best Male Single Vocal (Pop): Sunil Bardeba for "Goreto Ani.."

Best Group Vocal: Brosis for "China CompanyÖ"

Best Duet: Chhiring Bhutia/Sukmit Gurung for "Na Aau Najik Mero.."

Best Lyricist: Sindhu Rana for "Attar Tyo Phulko.."

Best Song (Film): Shambhujeet Baskota for "Meri Basanti.."

Best Female Single: Sharmila Bardeba for "Phulko Jawaf.."

Best Male Single: Karna Das for "Byarthai Pheri.."

Album of the Year: Nima Rumba's "Huri Batas"

Record of the Year: Khem Raj Gurung's "Ekadasi Bazaraima.."

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ambar Gurung