Chirag Khadka

Master Mitrasen Thapa Magar (1895–1946) was a pioneering Nepali folk singer, dramatist, social reformer, and cultural ambassador whose work laid the foundation for organized Nepali folk performance. Born in Bhagsu, Dharamshala, he served in the Gurkha Regiment before dedicating his life to music, theatre, and community upliftment. He performed widely across India and Nepal, including Kathmandu Durbar, where he presented folk songs, dramas, and shamanic‑influenced performances, earning high recognition and public felicitation. His mission was to preserve Nepali identity among diaspora communities through art, discipline, and cultural pride. Master Mitrasen recorded seven gramophone discs in Calcutta, a rare achievement for a Nepali artist of his era. Out of his 63 known compositions, 23 songs survive in recorded form. In 1942, he wrote “Buddhvaani” in Nepali to spread messages of peace, compassion, and social harmony. He passed away in 1946 while on a cultural tour, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire Nepali folk musicians worldwide.

Bhakta Raj Acharya commonly referred to as Bhajan Shiromani, is a Nepali singer and music-composer. He is one of the best known singer of Nepal. He was born in Dhankuta ,Nepal and raised in Kalimpong, India. He moved to Nepal in 1970’s during the flock on Darjeeling singers to Nepal. Bhakta Raj Acharya has very beautiful Hymns or Bhajans sung in Nepali language and is entitled as the Bhajan Shiromani of Nepal. Acharya’s career started in 2030 B.S after he won a gold medal in an All Nepal Song Competition . His career spanned until 2046 B.S. He has about 450 recorded songs and has composed about 25-30 songs. Now his sons, Satya Raj Acharya and Sworup Raj Acharya have followed their father’s footsteps with them and have established themselves as promising singers are geared up to bring the real-life story of their father into reel-life.

Yogesh Vaidya was a Nepalese singer and musician, often referred to as the Muhammad Rafi of Nepal. He was born in Kathmandu between 1946 and 1947 and passed away on January 18, 2024, at the age of 77. Vaidya was known for his contributions to Nepali and Newari-language music, with popular songs like "Sapana Bhulayee Saara," "Mero Aanshumaa Nahanse," and "Nepal Mero Timilai Upahar Bhayo". He also sang well-known Newari songs such as "Jai Namo Siri Buddha Bhagwan" and "Jimi Yahmah Thaun Jithay Wai". Beyond music, he worked in civil service for 33 years, retiring as a joint secretary in 2005. He held a master’s degree in food and nutrition from Ghent University, Belgium. Vaidya received several prestigious awards, including the Chhinnalata Song Award, the Mahila Geetkar Sangh Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), and the Bindabasini Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)

Hari Prasad Rimal is honored as one of the foundational figures of Nepali performing arts, celebrated for his pioneering contributions to theatre, music, and cinema. Widely recognized as Nepal’s first radio singer, he recorded Mero Mann Ma Timro for Radio Nepal in 1951, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s broadcasting and musical culture. Rimal was also a prominent stage actor and later transitioned into film, appearing in early Nepali classics such as Aama (1964). His expressive performances, disciplined craft, and commitment to artistic excellence helped shape the identity of modern Nepali acting. Over his long career, he received multiple honors acknowledging his influence on theatre, music, and the evolution of Nepal’s cultural landscape