Dewan Rai

Kathmandu:

The elimination round of the Samsung Nepali Tara is here. Our top 10 finalists will be trying to outperform each other to be the first Nepali Tara beginning July 23. Chosen from among 9,000 contestants nationwide by veteran musicians and singers, they have been at it for four long months. Organised by the Nil Barahi Movies, the Samsung Nepali Tara has put the entire nation under its spell. It is the first ever talent hunt on Nepali television. Here’s a glimpse into what the taras are all about and what they had to say about each other.

Pushpa Poudel

Born on February 7

A happy-go-lucky girl yet laborious and dedicated to her work. She is friendly and sociable and humble about everything that she’s achieved till now. She believes that all 10 finalists have the potential to be the tara, while the others Friends admire her because she is not malicious. A BBA III semester student, she is determined to take continue her with music career along with her studies. Trained under Gurudev Kamat, Pushpa thinks she is a strong contender for the title as she “has participated to win”.

Indira Joshi

Born on July 18

She is popular as she is frank. She describes herself as a “music lover”. She also loves travelling, while reading biographies is her favourite hobby. Most popular with the viewers, her fan mail is the largest. “Letters from fans and their appreciation boost my morale,” she says. Diffident in the initial earlier episodes because of her pronunciation, she has gained a lot of confidence. Her voice is something to talk about.

Dharmendra Sewan

Born on March 2

He is friendly, honest and confident about what he does. He loves singing hip-hop and Srijan accompanies him most of the time. “I am a happy guy,” he says about himself. Lessons at the DoReMi Pathasala brushed up his natural flair for singing, and the grooming has helped him gain confidence. He is aware of the changes he’s undergone and likes to keep modest about it. “I am giving you an interview. Is not it a change?”

Rupak Dotel

Born on January 20

He enjoys singing. Though, he’s reserved, the others say, “He is very friendly despite his reticence.” Looks like he was born to sing, and the rest say he is good at bringing out the essence of any song that he sings. Rupak loves simplicity. A music student of RR campus, he believes in fate. Since he has chosen a career in music, he believes his dedication to music will earn him recognition one day. People have already started recognising him on the streets and he says it is great to be “noticed and appreciated for what you’ve done”.

Srijan Lwagoon

Born on August 20

A frolicsome 18-year-old, the youngest finalist, everyone loves to be around him because he makes them laugh. “And I love to eat,” he says. Listening to music is like breathing for him. He is indeed a happy guy with unbridled optimism. He used to sing at school functions. “It was just a hobby,” he recalls, “When I got selected in the top 10, I realised I could really sing. Of course, I want to be the tara.”

Ramesh Pokharel

Born on June 18

With a calm and soothing disposition, he has quite a flair for classical music and can add a classical flavour to all kinds of song. For the other contestants he is their mentor, while he describes himself simply as a “music lover”. A gold medallist in the Masters’ level in Music at the Benaras Hindu University, Ramesh laboured for seven years and does not take his success for granted. “A degree-holder does not necessarily write a good poem. The same applies to music,” he says. He wants to “upgrade contemporary music, adding classical favour to it”.

Bhaveen Dhungana

Born on August 9

He is sober and loves to keep a low profile. “He points out your good qualities and never keeps a grudge,” the others say and appreciate his sincerity. “I believe in hardwork, not in luck,” he says. He is not afraid of losing for according to him: “Even if I don’t win the title, I will be contributing to the Nepali music in every possible way I can.” But no one can quash his confidence. He claims, “I will win.”

Jhuma Niraula

Born on January 9

“She is simple.” That’s precisely how the other finalists describe her. An honest, laborious, level-headed girl, her family is into music with her father, two brothers being musicians. She started singing when still a child. A little hesitant in the beginning, her confidence has shot up by a large degree. She says “I hope to win. That’s why we all are here, isn’t it?”

Durga Kharel

Born on October 22

Her smile says it all: innocent and sociable. Her co-contenders like her very much but also point out that her naivety will take her nowhere. “We have to be practical at the same time”: that is their advice to her. A third year student of Kalanidhi music school, singing comes first in her life. “I started singing when I was still a child,” she says, “Now I take it more seriously.”

Dipak Limbu

Born on August 1

He keeps smiling and the others appreciate his company. They describe him as a laborious, diligent person, but they complained about his short temper. He is excited about the event but does not want to brag. “I always keep my contenders one step above me. I labour to excel at what I do,” he says.

Brazesh Khanal

The man behind the Nepali Tara, Brazesh is described as a maverick character in the audio-video field. The unprecedented popularity of the programme has made him the talk of the town. However, he says, “The VJ is a hit till the programme runs.” He claims “Our top 10 finalists are 10 times better than the Indian Idol finalists.”