Kathmandu:

Following months long competition, Santosh Lama finally scooped the coveted Nepali Tara 2 title. The results were declared on the evening of December 21 at the ‘Closeup Nepali Tara 2 Live Result Show’ programme organised at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi. The other finalist in the grand finale was Tara Laksam (Limbu).

Amid deafening screams from supporters of both the finalists, the famous duo Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya declared the winner. Dropping down on his knees, the ever-smiling Lama accepted the award cheerfully, dedicating it to his nearest competitor Laksam. The winner was chosen through SMS poll and the judgement of main judges for the competition, senior musician Deepak Jangam, senior folk singer and musician Ram Thapa, and singer Deepak Bajracharya.

The crowd throughout the programme was simply intoxicated with excitement, many of them also holding banners of their favourite contestant. Their electrifying cheers infused much energy into the whole programme.

The programme started without much formality with a group song by the ten finalists Hami Nepali Tara.

Then the host Ritu Ramdam of Nepali Tara 2 entered clad in glittering red attire followed by her male counterparts Acharya brothers Swaroop and Satya in neat suits.

An entertaining performance by all the eight other finalists was showcased. The crowd seemed to have more inclination to scream for the female participants. The other eight participants were Raj Sagar, Sabina Ghalan, Suraj Thapa, Shweta Punjali, RG Kharel, Rojina Gurung, Yubaraj Tiwari, and Surya Kiran Lama. Nepali Tara 1 winner Deepak Limbu, first runner-up Dharmendra Sewang and participant Pushpa Poudel also sang a song each.

The last two finalists belted out a solo, a duet with Acharya brothers, and a medley, before the results were declared.

The winner Lama walked away with one lakh cash prize each from BST College, Gongabu and Asian Paints, sponsored Singapore and Malaysia visit from Western Union Money Transfer, solo album from Maya Music, a Bajaj Pulsar motorbike, and an acoustic guitar with the signature of the other nine finalists. The first runner-up Laksam and second runner-up Surya Kiran Lama won cash prize of Rs 50, 000 and Rs 25, 000 respectively from Asian Paints and a visit to Malaysia from Western Union Money Transfer.

“I am so nervous. It is my dream come true and an another musical journey has begun from now for me,” a delighted Lama shared. “It is not only my win. Both of us (Laksam and he) are Nepali Tara. I would like to share the success with him,” he added on a humble note.

According to the organisers, a total of 11,300 applied for the competition. Around 12, 50, 000 votes were cast for the ten finalists and over 6,50,000 votes for the two finalists alone. The programme was organised by Nil Barahi Films and the main sponsor of the programme was Closeup.