The Popular Radio Jockey

Sunuwar has become popular both as a radio jockey and a folk singer

By THAKUR AMGAI

As a young boy in the eastern hilly district of Okhaldhungalistened to the Radio programs aired from the Radio Nepal a feeling of aspiration used to overwhelm him.

He was very much impressed by the speaking style of Radio Jockeys like Kiran Kharel, Dhruba K.C., and Nirodhraj Pande, among others.

He not just listened to them, but tried to imitate their voice and style. Quickly his caliber of announcing was spread in the neighboring villages. Soon, he became the first choice to become the Master of Ceremonies in any program that was organized in the district.

Many youths aspire to be heard and be popular but only few have the real capacity to hold the audience spellbound by their announcing skills. It was proved that Pandav Sunuwar was one of them in his district, but he had a long way to go before he could be known at the national level.

Endowed with a typical voice that perfectly suits the tunes of Nepali folklores, Pandav Sunuwar, today, has not only been established as one of the most popular radio program presenters but also as a popular folk singer.

He has sung a few songs but most of them are popular. "I did not give much time and attention to singing because of my other passion in radio program presentation," said Sunuwar. "Even today I prefer to identify myself as an anchor rather than a singer."

Nepali audience respect and like him both as a singer and a radio anchor. Radio programs 'Chautari' and 'Rodhi' started in Radio Nepal almost three decades back were very popular. The programs embraced the concept of audience participation and were conducted in an informal manner showing the typical rural culture.

While 'Rodhi' is still equally popular, the other program has been discontinued since last few years 'because of the difficulty in time adjustment' in his own words. "We are thinking of launching it ('Chautari program) again," said Sunuwar, who is the chief of Program Division of Radio Nepal .

Sunuwar's inclination towards music was nurtured during the participation in various rituals of the village. "(In my early childhood), I used to listen to the 'Juwari Songs' that my elders sang in Ranke Bazar (on night fair in villages) that is organized on every full moon days," said Sunuwar. "I was inspired by them."

After passing high school in 2026 B. S., he came to Kathmandu and applied to become a radio program presenter in Radio Nepal. Luck did not favor him in his first attempt. However, after three years, on his second attempt he was selected as an assistant presenter in Radio Nepal. He used to conduct 'Gramin Karyakram' in those days.

The same year he formally set foot in folk singing by recording the song 'Sapana Bhari Hansi Rahanchhu Bipana Bhari Runchhu'.

Over the years he has collected and sung about a hundred songs. Inspired by his birthplace most of the songs he has sung are 'maruni'- a folk genre popular in the eastern region. In addition he has also sung 'samala', 'ghatu', 'tamang selo', among others.

Recently, his solo album 'Fyafulla' with Tamang Selos was released. Earlier he had released another album of folk songs 'Mechi Mahakali' two decades ago.

As a radio program presenter, he has started a number of new concepts to increase audience participation in Radio Nepal. He started the 'phone-in' program in 2041. The program is still running and very popular. The concept has become so popular in Radios that most of the programs of the F. M. radios that have spawned in the recent years follow the 'phone-in' concept.

Sunuwar who has collected typical folk tunes from the eastern region, feels that it is difficult to collect 'pure folk songs' these days.

"These days if you go to the villages and request them to sing folk songs of their area, they will only repeat the songs aired from Radio Nepal," said Sunuwar.

Probably influenced by the remix culture, Sunuwar now is working to record his old songs again with a fusion of traditional Nepali musical instruments with the older ones and using the modern technology.

"One should learn to flow with time, this is the demand of the young generation," said Sunuwar. "I will not distort the pronunciation of the words and the language while remixing," he reassures.

'Hitaiko Maya Bhetai Bhayo' and 'Fikkalaiko Bazaraima' are some of his recently recorded songs. Some of the popular songs recorded earlier are 'Narou Mayalu', 'Babari Phoolko Bot', 'Bairodko Batoma Dhulo Udaundai' and 'Bhijyo Timro Rato Pachhyauri'. These songs are as popular today as they were during the time they were recorded.