Bishnu Majhi

Bishnu Majhi (Nepali: विष्णु माझी; born 1986) is a Nepalese folk singer. The highest paid singer in Nepal, she has recorded over 5,000 songs in a career spanning 15 years,[1][2] including "Sital Dine Pipal Sami Chha", "Driver Dai Man Paryo Malai", "Lalupate Nughyo Bhuintira", "Purbako Mechi Ni Hamrai Ho, Paschim Mahakali Ni Hamrai Ho" and "Rumal Hallai Hallai", among others.[3] Her 2018 song "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" became the most viewed Nepali folk song on Youtube, with more than 90 million views, as of early 2020. Her awards include Hits FM Music Awards and Kalika FM Awards.

Bishnu Majhi
विष्णु माझी
Portrait
Bishnu Majhi, in her only publicly released photograph
Background information
Born (1986-06-26) 26 June 1986
Khoriya Ghat, Chapakot, Syangja, Nepal
GenresFolk
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2003–present

Born to a poor family in rural Syangja, she was educated up to the fifth grade, and started singing at public events aged 13. She quickly rose to fame after she began her professional career in Kathmandu around the year 2004, with help from Sundarmani Adhikari, who she would later marry. She has led a private life throughout her career, with her husband managing all her contracts, schedule and communications, leading to speculations and public concern regarding her wellbeing and safety.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Early life

Majhi was born to father, Tara Bahadur Majhi, and mother, Dharma Kumari,[7] on 26 June 1986 (12 Ashad 2043 BS)[2] in Ratnapur VDC of Syangja District in Nepal.[1] She has two siblings—an elder brother and a younger sister.[7] Born to a poor family, she was educated up to the fifth grade.[1]

Career

Majhi is estimated to have sung over 5,000 songs,[2] popular among them—"Kaslai Sodhne Hola", "Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha", "Driver Dai Man Paryo Malai", "Lalupate Nughyo Bhuintira", "Mai Chori Salala", "Na Jau Hai Sanu Pandherima", "Tyo Man Runna Hola Ra?", "Purbako Mechi Ni Hamrai Ho, Pascim Mahakali Ni Hamrai Ho", "Ghamle Ni Poldiyo, Junle Ni Jado Bho", "Hare Siva Ram", "Rumal Hallai Hallai" and "Bhetai Hunna Hola Ra".[3]

Beginnings

Majhi started singing in public events at age 13, with the support of singer Narayan Lekali, a resident of a neighbouring village.[6] She was a regular participant at regional folk singing competitions by age 15.[1] She and Lekali participated in the competition at Butwal festival when she was 15; they won second prize.[6] They then competed in Palpa festival where they won first prize.[6] Sundarmani Adhikari, who was also a participant at the event, noticed her and later persuaded her family to send her to Pokhara under his guardianship.[1] In April 2004, they competed together at Lekhnath festival in Pokhara and won first prize.[1][6] He then took her to Kathmandu to start a professional career.[1] Prior to meeting Adhikari, Majhi had already recorded her first song "Aamale Arti Dine Ghar Jane Bela" at Phewa Digital Studio in Pokhara.[1]

Professional career

In Kathmandu, she earned Rs 2,500 per song in the early days.[1] She had become a successful folk singer by 2007–08.[1] She started earning Rs 6,000 per song, recording as many as 5–6 songs a day.[1] She won Best Folk Singer Award at the Kalika FM Music Awards in 2008, and again in 2012.[8][9] In 2011, "Shital Dine Pipal Sami Cha" and "Phul Ramro Gulabko", sung with Yaam Chhetri, became popular; the former was the most listened folk song of that year.[10] Her 2012 song "Euta Aatma Cha", sung with Pashupati Sharma for the album Campus Padhna Aaune, was also popular.[10][11]

Her 2018 song "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" set the record for most viewed Nepali folk duet on Youtube, amassing 30 million views within six months.[2] By early 2020, it had reached 50 million views.[12] It won Folk Record of the Year Award at the 23rd annual Hits FM Music Awards.[12] She had previously been nominated in 2018 in the same category, but did not win.[13] "Lalumai" was also popular; it reached 10 million views in the first month of its release.[3]

By 2019, Majhi was earning a salary of Rs 50,000 (US $400) per song, making her the highest paid singer in Nepal.[2][3] She was recording around half a dozen songs a month.[14] In mid-2019, her salary doubled to Rs 100,000 per song.[5]

Professional image

Majhi's contemporaries have attributed her popularity to her "authentic voice" suited to Nepali folk music.[2] Her colleagues have praised her work ethic.[2][14]

Personal life

She was noticed by singer/composer Sundar Mani Adhikari at the folk singing competition in Palpa festival,[6] who later took her to Kathmandu to turn her into a professional singer.[4][2] After living with him for eight years,[1] she married him on 15 December 2011 (29 Mangsir 2068 BS) in a private ceremony[1] in Ram Temple, Pokhara.[2] She has twin sons born around 2015–16.[2][14]

She has lived a private life since the beginning of her career.[1][2] She can only be contacted indirectly through her husband, who negotiates all her contracts and manages her schedules.[1][2] When going out in public, she wears face mask and a scarf to hide her face.[3][4][14] She does not give concerts or attend other public functions,[3][6] despite a high demand nationally and internationally.[1][15] She has only one publicly released photograph, used for marketing.[14] She has no social media presence, and gives no interviews.[6] She has been referred to as the "Anonymous Superstar"[2] or the "Mystery Queen"[4] of Nepali music.

Her absence from public life prompted speculation that she might be being controlled and abused by her husband.[4][5][6] This led the Chief District Officer of Syangja to intervene.[16] The couple was interviewed at the District Administration Office[3][7] on 6 January 2019, where she was reunited with her father after 11 years.[2][16] According to the Police, Majhi attributed her choice of a private life to her lack of a formal education, and her trust in her husband's better-educated decisions.[16] Their inter-caste marriage was given as the reason for her estrangement from her kin.[16] She was asked to remove her face mask and scarf for physical examination; the Police said that there were no signs of physical violence on her face.[16] One of the interviewers, Superintendent of Police Rajkumar Lamsal, said Adhikari answered most of the questions asked to Majhi, and that it was hard to conclude Majhi was living a free life.[16]

Awards
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2008 Kalika Music Awards 2065 Best Folk Singer — Won [9]
2012 Kalika FM Music Award 2069 Best Folk Singer — Won [8]
2018 Hits FM Music Awards Folk Record of the Year Pardesh No. 7 Nominated [13]
2020 Hits FM Music Awards Folk Record of the Year "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" Won [12]

Discography
Year Album Song Other artists Label Ref.
2007 Paschim Purvako "Paschim Purvako" Kulendra BK Dhaulagiri Cassette Centre [17]
Nyauli Ruda Yo Man Runcha Ni "Dada Wari Jun Bhayo Ta Dada Pari Gham" Kamal Khanal, Raju Pariyar Dhaulagiri Cassette Centre [17]
2011 Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha "Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha" Yaam Chhetri [10][18]
Phul Ramro Gulabko "Phul Ramro Gulabko" Yaam Chhetri Samarpan Music [10][19]
2012 Campus Padhna Aaune "Euta Aatma Chha" Pashupati Sharma Aashish Music [10][11]
2018 "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" Kulendra Bishwakarma Abhyas Digital [12][20]

References
  1. "गुमनाम गायिका". nepalmag.com.np. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. "गुमनाम सुपरस्टार विष्णु माझी". narimag.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. "सर्वाधिक महँगी गायिका विष्णु माझी, जो नेपथ्यबाट 'ब्याक टु ब्याक' हिट गीत दिइरहेकी छिन् -". Ujyaalo Network. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  4. "रहस्यमय गायिका विष्णु माझीको बारेमा सनसनीपुर्ण खुलासा". saptahik.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  5. "मिडियामा सार्वजनिक हुँदै विष्णु माझी !". saptahik.com.np (in Nepali). Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. "विष्णु माझीको स्वेच्छिक गुप्तवास कि बाध्यता ?". Online Khabar. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. "म बन्धक छैन : गायिका विष्णु माझी". म बन्धक छैन : गायिका विष्णु माझी. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. Ltd, SoftNEP Pvt. "कालिका एफ एफ म्युजिक अवार्ड २०६९ बाट कसले कुन अवार्ड पाए (पुरा एक दशक को बिदाई)". kalikafm. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. "Kalika Music Awards held". The Himalayan Times. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. "सुरु २०६८ : अञ्जु पन्त र दीपक लिम्बू". archive.nagariknews.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. Yauta Atma Chha By Pashupati Sharma and Bishnu Majhi, archived from the original on 10 April 2020, retrieved 17 May 2020
  12. "Sabin Rai and The Pharaoh win big at the annual Hits FM music awards". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. "HMA Winners 2074 | Hits FM 91.2 | Welcome". 6 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. "विष्णु माझीका केही तथ्य". narimag.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. "किन गुमनाम थिइन विष्णु माझी ?". radiokantipur.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. "गायिका विष्णु माझी स्याङ्जा प्रहरी कार्यालयमा, ११ वर्षपछि भेटे बाबुले छोरी". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. Stirr, Anna Marie (2017). Singing Across Divides: Music and Intimate Politics in Nepal. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-063197-0.
  18. Sitaldine pipal By Bishnu Majhi and Yam Chhetri, retrieved 17 May 2020
  19. New Nepali Lok Dohori | Phool Ramro Gulab Ko - Bishnu Majhi and Yam Chhetri, retrieved 17 May 2020
  20. New Nepali lok dohori song 2075 | सालको पातको टपरी Salko patko | Kulendra Bishwakarma & Bishnu Majhi, archived from the original on 10 May 2020, retrieved 17 May 2020
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