It was a beautiful experience. It was raining heavily and suddenly there were something with rain like bird's fur. First thought it was hailstorm but they are not so soft. It took few more minutes to realize Man! it's snow. People were shouting and going mad
The temperature hovered at 7 degrees all day Wednesday, but this wasn't cold enough for the snow to accumulate in the Valley. However, the hills surrounding
Last time when I met Nora, she was waiting for bus to go to her parent's home. She had just left Hemanta, her husband. She had realized that above all she's human first then only someone's wife, someone's mother etc. I was left with question that why she had left Hemanta. After all he had realized his mistake. She should have forgiven him and stayed with him happily.
I don't know how justifiable is Nora's exit but when I saw her and tried to feel her putting myself in her shoes, I find her decision a right one. Relationship is not just about supporting each other in happy times, but also lending arms in sour times. Marriage is that string which joins two souls together. There should be respect, love, tenderness, faith, trust etc. for each other. But in Nora's case I feel there's none. Hemanta had treated her as doll only with whom he can play whenever he wanted. There's no liberty for her. She's lost in doll's house. May be people might question what kind of mother she is, but still deep somewhere I feel she did right thing. I may sound feminist, but searching own identity is not feminism. If Hemanta has left Nora like this, people wouldn't have had problem. See the story in different angle. Not from "the glass is half full" ideology but from "glass is half empty" then may be it would make sense.
There are numbers of Nora in our Nepali society. Some dares to live like her some don't. Have you seen her lately? What's she's doing? If so please don't forget to write.
And how do you feel about her exit? Is it justified? Please comment.
Aarohan Theater Festival is going on at Guruku everyday till February 12 at 4.30 pm. Be there to taste the Theater experience.
It was the day for music lovers/ artistes to celebrate their success, glory, achievement and passion. It was the day of 10th Annual Hits FM Music Awards 2063. Singers, musicians, creative artistes, all were there to celebrate the mega event of the Nepali Music Industry.
The rock band Sayaas stole the show walking away with 3 quick awards in Best New Artist, Best Rock Composition and Best Performance by a Group or Duo. Sabin Rai also snatched 2 awards for Best Pop Composition and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance though he had got 4 nominations. Sugam Pokhrel also didn’t let go the chance to kiss glory. He won Record of the Year while Album of the Year went ro Shishir Yogi’s Suskera. Ratna Shamsher Thapa proved to be the best lyricist with Katinjel as Song of the Year.
Reema Gurung was declared the Best Female Vocal Performance from Kasko Maya Lagyo while Jagadish Samal got the Best Male Vocal performance Award for his single Tapoban.
Lyricist Kiran Kharel was awarded with Life Time Achievement Award for his contribution in Nepali Music Industry.
Rest Awardees are:
Best Song in the Foreign Language – Albaratross for Scared
Bets Music Video – Asim Chirtrakar for Birsun Bhanchu
Best composition – Suresh Chitrakar for Purano Hundaina Maya
Best Song Originally Recorded for a Motion Picture Soundtrack – Suresh Adhikari for Saathi of ye Pandit Baje
Best Vocal Collaboration – Various Artist for Chyangba
Folk Record of the Year – Sarara Pani Ghattai Ma
Folk Album of the Year – Timi Gayau Arkai ko Dolima
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance – Shubani Moktan for Pharkena Maya
Besides few draw backs, the event was great. Hits FM Music Awards 2063 has certainly brought few reasons to smile for winners and their record companies and overall Nepali Music Industry. Past experiences have shown the increases in sales of albums and songs after such award were announced. So all the best for everyone.
Photo source: hitsfm.com.np
YOUNNOVATION EXCLUSIVE
It was 18th December 2006, I had got a call last night on 17th December 2006 that I may have to take Jal’s interview from my friend who works for In your face magazine. I had contributed an article for that mag in the past. I work till 1 AM to jot down the questions to ask the ever popular young and energetic band whose life performance I witnessed just two days back on 16th December 2006. I am a fan of Jal for that matter.
The day arrives, in the morning I’m informed to reach the parking of Hyatt at 10. I reach there on time, thing to consider is that I have an exam (viva) to give at 11:30 or 12:00. There seems to a miscommunication but we are informed that Jal has gone for a mountain flight. To no avail, we wait for an hour or so. Then the Jal’s manager inform us they are coming. He meant that they are coming down from their room but we scanned every incoming vehicle to sum up the work. Then Jal’s manager was behaving so good with us.
After around two hours of endless waiting, the terrific trio of Jal finally arrive at the lobby of Hyatt. I run to the lead vocalist Salman Butt and ask him to give me few minutes. Goher is a litter far and Shazi is in his own world. Just as I begin to ask the first question the chameleon nature of the manager shows, he is so eager to move. Informs me that they are getting late. He had ensured that he will provide 10 minutes or so but I had to sum up the interview in just 1:45 mins with just two questions asked. I was so unsatisfied as my hard work was unjustified and I still had a exam to give. Another point to notice is that Mr. Butt didn’t feel the need to stop smoking while answering my question. Do you call this Jal (Manger mainly)’s disrespect to media or what? I really wished that they missed their flight!!!! A ray of hope they had the decency to wave us bye.
The next day I get the anchor story of THT(The Himalayan Times) that ‘Jal’s manager is held with illegal notes’ I was so happy. Let’s put it aside but I’m a big fan of Jal. The way they treated a media person was reprehensible. If they had told they won’t give the interview we could have returned, they didn’t value our time.
Nonetheless, today 27th December 2006 I again get a call when I’m returning home from college. I just find out that I have to interview the creative genius behind Jal – Goher Mumtaz only as others have returned and Manager is still in custody. I was per-informed about this so I had prepared the questions; I jump home print the question and head for the interview at 6. Reach a hotel at Jwalakhel and landed in Goher Mumtaz’s room. He was watching cricket at that time. This man is truly talented no doubts about that as he is the lyricist, lead and rhythm guitarist and above all composes the songs for Jal. Buts still on the contrary to my bitter experience 9 days back he is down to earth and humble. Primarily, the interview can be labeled very good, I have recorded it. He did smoke but had the decorum to blow the smoke away from me. A fine-looking tall gifted artist being perplexed by my question was what I enjoyed the most in today’s interview. All in all I must add you must set aside the emotion and feelings in professional life to a level, or it forbids you from giving your best shot.
This was the bitter and sweet experience I had with interviewing Jal. Hope it was likable. If I get the photos I’ll add them up. Jotting this feels like a real blog: blog your feelings kind.
Geshan Manandhar
Around 650 Words
I got pic.
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Through the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, O
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Every kid (who is familiar to Christmas and Santa Claus) might be singing this carol and wishing and praying for all those lovely gifts and presents from Santa. After all many of them had been good all year and behaved very nicely. So every kid deserves something from Santa. But what about us? We, the so called grown up ones, haven't behaved well or does Santa presumes we can't behave good at all. That's why he doesn't order his elves to make presents for us. May be the later one is true. Santa has prejudiced thoughts regarding adults.
But as a child also I never got anything from him. He never ventured in my room to give me presents. (I didn't have chimney from where he can drop his gifts or come to put those gifts near my bedside but that can't be the reason for not getting any gifts.) May be Santa also discriminates on race, religion or colour. I never became Christian (I am agonist) and I am of Asian origin. May be I didn't meet his requirements so I wasn't given any gifts at all. But he made enormous error. Now there are many international and national laws to prevent such discrimination. So I am thinking to sue him and get all those gifts meant for me with extra gifts as punishment. But I guess I can't make his elves to work as punishment. So I have decided that he (Santa himself) would be making gifts for me all night this Christmas. But don't worry kids I would be riding his sleigh and handing over gifts to all children around the world. So behave well because I am keeping my eyes on you.
And good news for adults too, I am also going to give gifts to them. As a first gift, you have got this blog to read and enjoy. Plus there are other gifts too. You will get good party mood (in festival seasons only, mind it) and nice sleep all the year. Ain't that good enough????
So HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND SEASONS HOLIDAY TO ALL OF YOU HOHOHOHOHOHO
First it was sound system and second it was crowd that affected the enjoyment and fun at hugely awaited JAL's performance at Tundikhel.
The JAL started the event with their lowly number Teeri Yaad and started to scorch the event with their hit WOH LAMHE. Then they sang Ek Din Ayega but the piercing noise came from speakers forced them to stop singing and wait for sound system to be fixed. They moved out from stage saying they would be back within 2 minutes but they didn't return for next 15 minutes. Then the crowd went wild and started throwing bottles, small pebbles and grasses at stage. they did come back and started singing Lal Meri Patt and Rangon Mein but madness of crowd didn't wear off easily. They continued throwing pebbles and bottles. Farhan (the lead vocalist) even had to urge crowd not to throw bottles. Then they started their hit number Dil Hareey and the crowd started going gaga. They continued the song with old Hindi snippets like Kya Huwa Tera Vaada, Kabhi Kabhi and Ye Dosti. They dedicated later one to the friendship of
Before Jal, Nepali bands X-Mantra and 1974 A.D. scorched the concert. X-Mantra sang their hit numbers like Makurako Jalo, Hami dherai
Over all the concert was really rocking despite few incidents. People enjoyed the music and what more, JAL have promised to come back soon.
मंसीर २१ देखि २५ सम्म राजधानीमा हिमाल एसोसिएसनद्धारा आयोजित चौथो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय पर्वतिय चलचित्र महोत्सबले काठमाण्डौलाई निकै ततायो । काठमाण्डौलाई अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय चलचित्र महोत्सबको क्षेत्रमा महत्वपुर्ण स्थानको रुपमा चिनाउनका लागि सन् २००० बाट आफ्नो यात्रा सुरु गरेको महोत्सबले आफ्नो चौथो संस्करणसम्म आइपुग्दा महोत्सबहरु माझ भिन्नै स्थान बनाएको छ । जम्मा गरेर २६ राष्ट्रका ७३ वटा चलचित्रहरु काठमाण्डौका तीन स्थानमा प्रदर्शन गरिएको थियो । पर्वत पर्वतिय समुदाय र पर्वतिय खेलकुदमा आधारित भएर बनाइएका उत्कृष्ट चलचित्रहरुले द्वन्द्व संस्कृति वातावरण जीवनशैली विश्वव्यापिकरण जस्ता धेरै प्रकारका विधाहरु समेटेको थियो ।
यस पटकको महोत्सबमा प्रदर्शित चलचित्रहरुले धेरैको ध्यान खिच्न सफल भयो । एक लिङ्ग परिवर्तन गरेकी महिलाको साइकल प्रतियोगितामा भाग लिने संघर्षको कथा बोकेको क्यानाडाको हन्ड्रेड परसेन्ट वोमन (100% women) देखि भारतको कश्मिरमा श्रीमान बेपत्ता बनाइएका अर्ध विधवा महिलाहरुको पीडा बोकेको 
Waiting जस्ता चलचित्रहरुले दर्शकहरुमाझ छुट्टै पहिचान बनाए । अपहरित भए पछि बाल सैन्यको रुपमा लडाँई लड्नु परेका युगान्डाको बालबालिकाहरुको कथा समेटेको इन्भिजिवल चिल्ड्रेन-रफ कट (Invisible Children-Rough Cut), युद्ध र विदेशीहरुको हस्तक्षेपको कारणले तहसनहस भएको अफगानिस्तनका महिलाहरुले भोग्नुपरेको पीडा बताउने भ्यु प्रुम अ ग्रेन अफ स्यान्ड (View froma a Grain of sand) द्धन्द्धको कारणले १२ वर्षको उमेरमै परिवारको भरणपोषणमा लाग्न बाध्य बालकको कथा बोकेको सिमेन्ट (Cement) जस्ता चलचित्रहरु हेरेर दर्शकहरुले भर्खरै निकॊ हुन लागेको सशस्त्र द्धन्द्धको पीडालाई झलझली सम्झिए ।
प्रदर्शित ७३ चलचित्रहरुमध्ये दर्शकहरुको रोजाइमा भने भारतीय निर्देशक गौरब जानीको राइजिङ्ग सोलो टु द टप अफ दि वल्र्ड (Rising solo to the top of the world) उत्कृष्ट रह्यो । निर्देशकले भारतीय शहर मुम्बई देखि लद्दाखको चाङ्गथाङ्ग पठार (Changthang Plateau) सम्म एक्लै मोटरसाइकलमा गरेको यात्रा र यस अवधिमा उनले देखेका भोगेका अनुभवहरुको विवरण निकै रमाईलो तरिकाले प्रस्तुत गरिएको छ । चलचित्रमा यस यात्राले निर्देशकलाई जिवनको छुट्टै पाटो सिकाएको देखाइएको छ । A girl married at the age of 13 gets exploited by her husband and in-laws. She wants to be free from all the hardship. Maoists promises of freedom, liberty and indoctrinated policies appeal her. She leaves her family and joins the militia.
A girl belongs to so called lower class family who owns nothing. They have to work tirelessly to make meal for evening or morning. In the midst of extreme poverty and hardship, Maoist's ideology brings rays of hope. She leaves her family and joins them.
A girl while studying at college gets attracted by Maoist's ideologies and promises. She joins them and works to build strong student's base of party.
These are the some glimpses of female Maoists from the camera of Subina Shrestha. Her 22 minutes long documentary tries to explore reasons why many women joined the party and their experiences as cadre. It also tries to review the 10 year old people's war from women's perspective.
Our male dominant social structure has always way around discriminated the females and denied them their rights and liberties. So when the conflict began Maoists gave promises of equality, freedom and liberty to women and they too joined Maoists. Now there are around 40% women constituting Maoist's People's Army. Many joined liking their ideologies but it's not the case with all. "A stove, A blouse and A gun" also tries to show how many girls were abducted and recruited without their consent. An ex-Maoist cadre shown in shadow says:
We were taken to Maoist's program saying we would be freed soon. They made us walk at night. Later when we wanted to come back, they told us that our names have already been reached to comrade Prachanda (Maoist Supremo) and we cannot go back. Even if we go back to home we would be shot by army. We couldn't do anything as we didn't know way back to home.
This is just a single case. Director Subina expressed that she couldn't find any who were willing to share their stories.
Now the conflict is in state of being managed, the Maoist's female cadre are actively anticipating the outcome of their sacrifices. But their dream seems to be in bleak situation as the party which gave them dreams and promises also acted same way as other parties. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has only 2 women member in its Central Committee and it didn't include any woman in it's Peace Negotiating Team.
This documentary has shown the retrospectives of people's war and women's active participation. Now the
JAL, famous Pakistani Band is coming to the Shangri-La after another Pakistani Band Strings created DHOOM here. JAL are supposed to do (if everything goes accordingly only, mind it) concert at Hyatt Regency on 15 December 2006 and at Tundikhel on 16 December, 2006. Obviously ticket rates of Hyatt are expensive than of Tundikhel but folks, there are X-Mantra, our very own Nepali Spiders (remember Suraj of KTV saying when strings were here) and 1974 A.D. Ticket prices of Hyatt are rated Rs. 2000 (Boy its lot much!!! but hold on, it says inclusive of dinner and drink, not bad deal hun???) and Rs. 200 for Tundikhel (Less than of Strings, wonder why then we were charged much???) but surely no free dinner and drinks. This event is brought to us by The Kathmandu Mall (thanks to them). 
