KATHMANDU: The Hits FM Music Awards 2072 on March 11 celebrated talents of Nepali music industry, with Zindagile Hisaab Maagchha sweeping major categories, and Bipul Chettri winning three awards.

The awards were given in 18 different categories and contemporary number Zindagile Hisaab Maagchha won four titles — Record of the Year, Best Male Vocal Performance (Ajar Jangam), Best Composition (Deepak Jangam) and Best Arrangement (Kiran Kandel).

Ajar remembered the triumph as “the moment of pride. I thought of winning in at least one category, but we won in four. With the award comes the responsibility and I feel that I must work hard in the days to come.” It is the second win for Kandel and “I am less excited than I was in my first win two years ago. But the moment today is also a blissful one”. Kandel won the Best Arranger award in 2014.

Chettri, though not present at the event, bagged the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop/Rock Composition awards for Syndicate. He also won the Pop/Rock Album of the Year award for his debut album Sketches of Darjeeling.

What The Funk band took home awards — Best Performance by a Group or Duo with Vocal, and Best Rock Vocal Performance for the funk number Gaijatra.

Meanwhile, the biggest award of the ceremony — Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred to lyricist and poet Bhairavnath Rimal (Kadam) for his incessant contribution in the Nepali music industry. The 79-year-old lyricist, who started writing poems and lyrics at the age of 12, is known for songs like Jhaskiyechha Man Mero, Jun Phool Maile Chaheko Thiye among others.

Along with honouring the stars of Nepali music, the event also saw entertaining performances by Karna Das, Baanika Pradhan, Rohit John Chettri, among others.

Rohit John, who entertained the audience with his hit song Bistaarai Bistaarai, also won Best New Artist Award for the same song. “It is my first experience of winning an award and it is a moment of happiness for me,” Rohit John shared after his victory.

Other winners

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Chrisma Abigali for Meri Aama

Folk Record of the Year: Farka Daajai by Anjaan Babu

Best Female Vocal Performance:

Sangita Rana Pradhan for Dukhera

Ki Dukhauna

Album of the Year: Rumani Bataas by Robin Sharma

Song of the Year : Kewal Saasle

Bhanyau by Pushkar Parajuli

Best Song Originally Recorded for a Motion Picture Soundtrack: Jaalma by Kali Prasad Baskota

Best Vocal Collaboration: Deep Banos by Satyaraj and Sworoopraj Acharya