Aashwashan Dahal
Premdhoj, the velvet voice of Nepal, was born on June 6, 1938 AD. He had a very comfortable childhood being loved and cared by his family members. He started his singing career from the age of 15 and contributed to music industry of Nepal until his final breath.
According to film director Prakash Sayami, singer Pradhan can be aptly considered a singer with a silky voice. If we go down the memory lane and try to find something about the legendary singers like Premdhoj, we may find some interesting things about them. In case of Pramdhoj, we find that he recognized for having what many call ‘a velvet voice’. During his voice-test at Radio Nepal, he had sung a Hindi song “Jindagi Dene Wale”. This was a song sung by Talat Mahmood, who was known as the ‘velvet voice of India’. So, this coincidence helped him to be recognized as the velvet voice of Nepal. Later, he sang “Makhamali Ghumto” which was composed by Amber Gurung, after listening to this song Nepali people started to label Premdhoj a singer with a velvet voice.
The velvet voice of Nepal passed away on March 6, 2021 leaving music lovers in sorrow and unbearable pain. He was a pivot of the golden era of modern Nepali music, and that era was started some 60 years back. That was the era of Premdhoj, Narayan Gopal, Prem Manik, Gopal Yonzon and such other high peaks of Nepali music. All these singers were making a new journey and a new dimension in the Nepali music with their own unique musical styles and voices.
Premdhoj never forgets his first meeting with Narayan Gopal. During his voice test he came in the office of Pradhan and took his bicycle as a means of transportation to Radio Nepal. Pradhan also sang an election song in 2016 BS for Pushpalal Shrestha, the founder of Communist Party of Nepal and it was Narayan who played Tabala for the song. This was the first and unfortunately the last song of Pradhan and Narayan singing together. Their relationship, however, always remained friendly.
Premdhoj sang a song “Rajamati” for a 1995 (AD) film with the same name. This song is in Nepal Bhasa, which has its own importance. It was first ever recorded song in gramophone by a Nepali artist named Seturam Shrestha. The song in Nepal Bhasa also gained fame because it was played in London during the state visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana to England in 1850.
Not only in Rajamati, Premdhoj also gave his melodious voice in many films like Maitighar ( first film made in Nepal from private sector with guest appearance of Bal Raj Dutt), Shanti Deep, Jeevanrekha, Mayalu , Annyaya etc.
Premdhoj always remained a prized playback singer. He also helped establish other singers like Narayan Gopal and Manik Ratna Sthapit. Manik Ratna’s first song “Yo Kholako Sanglo Pani” is a masterpiece composed with the help of Premdhoj Pradhan.
Premdhoj was first singer to play guitar on the stage in Nepal. For his song “Goreto Tyo Gaunko” he needed to learn guitar. He learned the minor chord of guitar from his friend Ramsaran Dharnal who had just come from Kolkata. He was also the first singer to record songs from own money in Kolkata in the music arrangement of Manohari Singh. He earned his name all over the world by singing the song “Timi Aayo Mero Dilma” penned by Rabindra Shah. This was influenced from English Cinema Come September. After that song, he made a separate image in front of his contemporaries.
He has sung many songs in the music of Bhairab Thapa, NatiKaji Shrestha, Shiva Manandhar, Amber Gurung, Manohari Singh, Govindalal, CK Rasaili, Basanta Chhetri along with musicians of young generations like Anil Shah, Jyoti Ghimire and Sachin Singh.
He has also sung patriotic songs like “Yo Nepali Shira Uchhali” and “Yehi Ho Nepal, Nepaliko Ghar”. His folk song “ Yo Naniko Siraima” from Gandharva collection is a masterpiece. In this song he has made relationship with Gorkhalis of Palungtar. Critics even praise him that he showed his honor for singer Jhalakman Gandharva by singing this song.
Premdhoj was the first person to introduce the melodious tone in Nepali Music. In both Solo and Duet song he has always performed his best. He has sung with the singers of both younger and senior generation from Ratnalal Shrestha, Prem Manik, Ratna Thapa, Tugmardan Thapa, Aruna Lama to Mina Pokhrel and Indira Joshi.
In one of the Indian Film Fare award functions, Premdhoj appeared to sing a song which left everyone amazed with his melodious voice. He was even insisted by popular composers of India including R D Burman, Manohari Singh and Khaiyam to stay in India. Due to affection for his mother and motherland, he didn’t stay there. He has also sung the lyrics of his mother, Pran Devi Pradhan.
Premdhoj was a palace singer during the regime of MBB Shah. Premdhoj came in Nepali music industry a decade ago before Narayan Gopal and earned name and fame before him but he was always soft to Narayan Gopal. It was Premdhoj who helped Narayan to get established in the music industry. He was a judge in the “Modern Song Competition” organized by Narayan Gopal Kosh. So, he always remained in touch with music fraternity.
After the departure of Narayan Gopal, Tara Devi, Natikaji, Shiva Shankar and Ambar Gurung, Premdhoj was the last great singer of Nepali music from the earlier generation, considered to be one of the pioneers of the transformation phase of Nepali music.
The demise of Premdhoj has caused irreparable damage to Nepali music. His absence has caused a stir in Nepali music industry. But there was zero attendance from Music Academy or Pragya Pratisthan or the state administration at Pradhan’s departure (last funeral rites). Only Ram Bir Manandhar, State Minister for Urban Development, was seen on the occasion.
The loss of such a legendary singer is a big loss. Without him there would be no establishment base for Golden Era of Nepali music. Such a singer, who popularized Nepali music and songs to the world, will always remain in our hearts.