Kathmandu:

Even one of my songs has been remixed, but I don’t prefer giving songs for remixing.

It feels like giving away your own child.

Remember the soulful voice singing Yesto pani hundo raicha when you dialled Radio Nepal decades back. This is the voice that takes you back to the golden era of music which entertained all Nepali through the only source of entertainment — Radio. Phatteman Rajbhandari is one of the pioneers of contemporary music who brought the needed change to the music industry of Nepal. Born in November 1936 to Jeet Man Rajbhandari and Purna Maya Rajbhandari in Jayabageshowri, Phatte-manji was musically influenced since the very young age of seven. Living near the Pashupati Nath temple he used to go for Bhajans where his father sang. Later on he also sang devotional songs every evening at Pashupati bhajan functions. He studied in Padmodaya school but could not complete his SLC.

Remembering the olden days, Phattemanji shares memories about his childhood spent near the holy shrine and on the banks of Bagmati. “I still remember swimming in Bagmati and I was interested in football as well, I used to play with my friends at Kailash Danda, but we didn’t have a football so we played with bhokatey (pomello),” he says with a smile. During Shivaratri well known singers from India used to come and perform at the temple and Phattemanji loved listening to their bhajans. At one time Guru Das Gokhale from India had paid visit to Kathmandu; highly impressed by the singer Phattemanji insisted Gokhale to teach him. He learnt classical music from Gokhale for six months.

“My first song that was recorded at Radio Nepal was a bhajan Hey Ram naam japdai. Then it was when I performed Yesto pani hundo raicha penned by Yadav Kharel and composed by Nati Kaji I stood first in the nationwide competition,” says Phattemanji. And since then there is no looking back for the singer who has given many classics like Marnu baro garho hunna and Banai khayo dadhelole. “At that time most of the bhajans were sung in Hindi but unlike today music was not just for entertainment and commercial purposes but it had spiritual value as well. Artistes at that time gave less importance to money and more to the quality of songs,” he shares. Highly influenced by his father and late Nati Kaji, Phattemanji looks up to them as his mentors. “Initially it was my father who encouraged me to sing at bhajans later I met Nati Kaji dai who was my brothers friend, and he was impressed to see my inclination towards singing he used to ask me to come to his place and practice. He came to visit me every time he came to Pashupati,” remembers Phattemanji.

Apart from Nati Kaji’s melodies it was Narayan Gopal’s voice that Phattemanji loved a lot. “Though I was close to many singers, it was Narayan Gopal that I was closest to. I remember we used to meet at Narendra Bataju’s place in Ason and practice singing. We sang Hindi songs then, I sang songs like Rasik balma and Narayan Gopal preferred to sing Puchona kaise maine.” “He was very talented, if he had lived longer he would have contributed a lot to Nepali music,” he adds. Among Narayan Gopal’s songs he likes Ishwor taile rachera aja the most. And yet another singer among his contemporaries he likes is Bacchu Kailash, because of his unique voice.

Married at the age of 23 with Jamuna Rajbhandari, Phattemanji has two sons, three daughters and six grandchildren. He remembers the various question his fans asked him,

“Lots of people wrote letters asking how old am I? How do I look? Am I married or not? It was weird as most of them thought I was a huge tall guy just listening to my voice,” he chuckles.

Today he is not very involved with music commercially, however, last year he performed at Paleti series after a long break and his latest album Phatteman 70 ma was released. Nowadays, his daily routine involves waking up at 4:00 am and going to temples and then a walk for an hour. Then he practices till 9:00 am and has his lunch by 10-10:30 am. His afternoon just flies away as he rests for two-three hours and after an early dinner he sleeps by 8:00 pm. “I just love kalo dal, chamsur palungo and chicken or mutton, it does not matter. I like the food my wife prepares as she knows how much salt or pepper I like,” he says. And he also likes listening to Lata Mangeshkar’s songs.

Talking about the musical environment at that time Phattemanji says, “There was just radio then and for recording we had to go to Kolkota (then Calcutta). Radio Nepal recorded songs once a year and there used to be a long queue for that. People were informed three or four months prior to the recording date. While waiting we vigorously practiced our songs so that is sounded perfect. Unlike today there used to be live recording back them, so we could not risk making mistakes, so I think we worked really hard on our performances then.” He feels that most of the youngsters today don’t take their involvement with music seriously; some even think that if they have money they can bring out their own music albums. “Ahile ko le sangeet sadhana gardaina (nowadays they don’t have devotion towards music). Even today I practice for three hours every morning,” he adds.

“Music industry today is doing pretty good and remixes are popular. But what I feel is old songs are popular no matter what so the people should concentrate on producing something new. They are talented and have created such good remixes but I feel they can do much better on their own,” Phattemanji says. “Even one of my songs has been remixed but I don’t

prefer giving away songs for remixing, it feels like giving away your own child,” he adds.