Balanda Rai

Dibya Khaling (March 28, 1952 (15 Jestha 2009 BS)) is a famous Nepali musician, composer and lyricist. Dibya Khaaling has rendered music for about 1000 songs, including the famous “Mero geet sabai timi laai..” sung by Arun Thapa , Ma Ta Laligurans Bhayechhu, Hey Bir Hinda Aghi Sari, Preyasika Yaadharu, Mayako Aadharma, and Bipana Babhaye Bachidine, and music for plays and films (Nepali film Didi by Pratap Subba). Khaling moved to Nepal from Darjeeling in the 1960s and worked with Radio Nepal. He composed music for singers like Narayan Gopal, Arun Thapa, Gyanu Rana, Mira Rana etc. A book “Dibya Sangeetkaar, Dibya Khaaling” has been written by his friends and family members, such as poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire and musicians Kiran Pradhan and Bulu Mukarung in his memory. He was married to Grace Khaaling. He is survived by three sons (Prajaya, Pradesh, Pratibimba), one daughter (Pratigya), two granddaughters (Divyanah Grace and Aanyata Parisa) and two grandsons (Noah and Deedan Daniel). Dibya was suffering from heart problems and died on 25 June 2006.

Manohari Singh (1931–2010), born in Kolkata to a Nepalese Bhusal family, is celebrated as one of South Asia’s finest woodwind and orchestral arrangers. Though globally known for his work with R.D. Burman, his Nepali heritage and musical upbringing in a Nepali household shaped his tonal sensibility, melodic phrasing, and emotional depth — qualities that strongly resonated with Nepali film composers.His mastery of alto saxophone, flute, piccolo, clarinet, mandolin, and bansuri made him a sought‑after session musician whose sound influenced the orchestral palette of Nepali film music in the 1980s–1990s. Many Nepali composers — especially those working in Mumbai and Kolkata studios — relied on his phrasing style, brass‑woodwind layering, and melodic counterlines as a reference point.Although he did not score many Nepali films directly, his arrangement style, brass band roots, and Nepali musical lineage helped shape the cross‑border sound that Nepali cinema adopted during its modern era. His work as part of the Basu–Manohari duo also inspired Nepali arrangers who studied Indian studio orchestration.

Kalyan Singh is a Nepali composer and songwriter. His works include Santosh Lama‘s ‘Batuwa’, Hemanta Rana‘s ‘Raat Ki Raani’ and ‘Muskaan’, and Nima Rumba’s ‘Jaadu’, among others. He has also directed music for films — ‘Visa Girl’, ‘Mukhauta’ and ‘Hasiya’. With the knack of composing different styles of music, he is one of the capable composers of Nepali industry. Musical roots Singh was born on March 2, 1983. He was born into a musical family. His father, Bhagat Singh was an instrumentalist who worked at Radio Nepal and it was him who taught him music. He started learning music with the harmonium. By the age of seven, he had learnt the violin. Even though he learned and played music in the next several years, he had not planned to pursue music professionally. On the other hand, nobody in his family thought that he would be in the music filed. Turning point After completing his Bachelors level of education in 2002/3, Singh wanted to go to Australia for his further studies. But he was turned down and so he picked up music instead. With the help of his brother, renowned music director Raju Singh, he debuted as a singer with his first album titled ‘Fly’ in 2005/6. Singh had written and composed five songs out of seven tracks for ‘Fly’. However, ‘Fly’ didn’t go well. And so, he chose to become a composer. Moreover, an incident took place at one of the FM stations during the promotion of ‘Fly’. The ‘hurting’ episode made him determined to become a composer as he felt, “I won’t come to this FM station but my music will.” If that incident hadn’t taken place in his life, he wouldn’t have worked hard and become a composer. His willpower to become a composer was further supported and encouraged by photographer, cover designer, Lyricist Anil Sthapit.  

Anil Shahi, a music director and fusion guitarist, was born in Bhurungkhel, Kathmandu, Nepal. During his childhood days, Anil used to play percussions and flute in social gatherings and occasions. He started to play guitar at the age of 12 and took initial lessons from his uncle, and later went to Gurukul in Varanasi, India, where he learned classical ragas.