Veteran artiste Hari Prasad Rimal passes away at 92
KATHMANDU: Hari Prasad Rimal — widely acclaimed first singer of Radio Nepal — died at his residence in Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu in the wee hours today. He was 92.
His mortal remains has been kept at his residence for final tributes. Rimal's body will be taken to Pashupati Aryaghat for cremation, Samrat Sapkota, a film director told Rastriya Samachar Samiti.
Rimal, a prolific actor of both stage and screen, a director, and a lyricist, was a patient of chronic bronchitis and prostate gland complications. He had been bedridden for the last four years.
He became the first singer of the country at Radio Nepal when he recorded the song Mero Mann Tukra Bhayera Aakhaako Baato Bahanechha penned by writer Shankar Lamichhane in 1950/51.
The late veteran artiste is revered for his famous songs such as Fagat Ek Nazar Ma, Jaaun Hami Baadal Paari, Pawanle Phool Laai, Binaa Baadal and Aanshu Bahaau among others. He also contributed to Nepali theatre by acting in Nepali movies like Aama, Manko Baandh, Pariwartan, Ke Ghar Ke Dera and Santaan among others.
Born on September 20, 1925, at Lagantole, Lalitpur as the third child to Ghana Shyam Rimal and Mohan Kumari Rimal, Hari Prasad was brought up in a family of artistes. Father Ghana Shyam was a singer while his brothers Gopal Prasad Rimal and Krishna Prasad Rimal were poet and dramatist respectively.
Rimal was honoured by Bhakta Raj Acharya Pratisthan on July 28 last year. Other felicitations include Nepal Chalachitra Kalakar Sangh Puraskar (1998), Indra Rajya Laxmi Puraskar (1985), Hiranya Kumari Karki Puraskar (1998) among various others.
Rimal is survived by his wife Kalyani and their two sons and two daughters.
