Bishnu Majhi
Bishnu Majhi विष्णु माझी | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Khoriya Ghat, Chapakot, Syangja, Nepal | 26 June 1986
Genres | Folk |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 2003–present |
Bishnu Majhi (
Born to a poor family in rural Syangja, she was educated up to the fifth grade, and started singing at public events aged 13. She quickly rose to fame after she began her professional career in Kathmandu around the year 2004, with help from Sundarmani Adhikari, whom she would later marry. She has led a private life throughout her career, with her husband managing all her contracts, schedule and communications, leading to speculations and public concern regarding her wellbeing and safety.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Early life
Majhi was born to father, Tara Bahadur Majhi, and mother, Dharma Kumari,
Career
Majhi is estimated to have sung over 5,000 songs,[2] popular among them—"Kaslai Sodhne Hola", "Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha", "Driver Dai Man Paryo Malai", "Lalupate Nughyo Bhuintira", "Mai Chori Salala", "Na Jau Hai Sanu Pandherima", "Tyo Man Runna Hola Ra?", "Purbako Mechi Ni Hamrai Ho, Pascim Mahakali Ni Hamrai Ho", "Ghamle Ni Poldiyo, Junle Ni Jado Bho", "Hare Siva Ram", "Rumal Hallai Hallai" ,"Bhetai Hunna Hola Ra", "Chari Jelaima","Salko Patko Tapari Huni", "Lalumai".[3]
Beginnings
Majhi started singing in public events at age 13, with the support of singer Narayan Lekali, a resident of a neighbouring village.[6] She was a regular participant at regional folk singing competitions by age 15.[1] She and Lekali participated in the competition at Butwal festival when she was 15; they won second prize.[6] They then competed in Palpa festival where they won first prize.[6] Sundarmani Adhikari, who was also a participant at the event, noticed her and later persuaded her family to send her to Pokhara under his guardianship.[1] In April 2004, they competed together at Lekhnath festival in Pokhara and won first prize.[1][6] He then took her to Kathmandu to start a professional career.[1] Prior to meeting Adhikari, Majhi had already recorded her first song "Aamale Arti Dine Ghar Jane Bela" at Phewa Digital Studio in Pokhara.[1]
Professional career
In Kathmandu, she earned Rs 2,500 per song in the early days.[1] She had become a successful folk singer by 2007–08.[1] She started earning Rs 6,000 per song, recording as many as 5–6 songs a day.[1] She won Best Folk Singer Award at the Kalika FM Music Awards in 2008, and again in 2012.[8][9] In 2011, "Shital Dine Pipal Sami Cha" and "Phul Ramro Gulabko", sung with Yaam Chhetri, became popular; the former was the most listened folk song of that year.[10] Her 2012 song "Euta Aatma Cha", sung with Pashupati Sharma for the album Campus Padhna Aaune, was also popular.[10][11]
Her 2018 song "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" set the record for most viewed
By 2019, Majhi was earning a salary of Rs 50,000 (US $400) per song, making her the highest paid singer in Nepal.[2][3] She was recording around half a dozen songs a month.[14] In mid-2019, her salary doubled to Rs 100,000 per song.[5]
Professional image
Majhi's contemporaries have attributed her popularity to her "authentic voice" suited to Nepali folk music.[2] Her colleagues have praised her work ethic.[2][14]
Personal life
She was noticed by singer/composer Sundar Mani Adhikari at the folk singing competition in
She has lived a private life since the beginning of her career.[1][2] She can only be contacted indirectly through her husband, who negotiates all her contracts and manages her schedules.[1][2] When going out in public, she wears face mask and a scarf to hide her face.[3][4][14] She does not give concerts or attend other public functions,[3][6] despite a high demand nationally and internationally.[1][15] She has only one publicly released photograph, used for marketing.[14] She has no social media presence, and gives no interviews.[6] She has been referred to as the "Anonymous Superstar"[2] or the "Mystery Queen"[4] of Nepali music.
Her absence from public life prompted speculation that she might be being controlled and abused by her husband.
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Kalika Music Awards 2065 | Best Folk Singer | — | Won | [9] |
2012 | Kalika FM Music Award 2069 | Best Folk Singer | — | Won | [8] |
2018 | Hits FM Music Awards
|
Folk Record of the Year | Pardesh No. 7 | Nominated | [13] |
2020 | Hits FM Music Awards
|
Folk Record of the Year | "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" | Won | [12] |
Discography
Year | Album | Song | Other artists | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Paschim Purvako | "Paschim Purvako" | Kulendra BK | Dhaulagiri Cassette Centre | [17] |
Nyauli Ruda Yo Man Runcha Ni | "Dada Wari Jun Bhayo Ta Dada Pari Gham" | Kamal Khanal, Raju Pariyar | Dhaulagiri Cassette Centre | [17] | |
2011 | Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha | "Sital Dine Pipal Sami Cha" | Yaam Chhetri | [10][18] | |
Phul Ramro Gulabko | "Phul Ramro Gulabko" | Yaam Chhetri | Samarpan Music | [10][19] | |
2012 | Campus Padhna Aaune | "Euta Aatma Chha" | Pashupati Sharma | Aashish Music | [10][11] |
2018 | "Salko Patko Tapari Huni" | Kulendra Bishwakarma | Abhyas Digital | [12][20] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "गुमनाम गायिका". nepalmag.com.np. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "गुमनाम सुपरस्टार विष्णु माझी". narimag.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "सर्वाधिक महँगी गायिका विष्णु माझी, जो नेपथ्यबाट 'ब्याक टु ब्याक' हिट गीत दिइरहेकी छिन् -". Ujyaalo Network. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "रहस्यमय गायिका विष्णु माझीको बारेमा सनसनीपुर्ण खुलासा". saptahik.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "मिडियामा सार्वजनिक हुँदै विष्णु माझी !". saptahik.com.np (in Nepali). Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "विष्णु माझीको स्वेच्छिक गुप्तवास कि बाध्यता ?". Online Khabar. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "म बन्धक छैन : गायिका विष्णु माझी". म बन्धक छैन : गायिका विष्णु माझी. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b Ltd, SoftNEP Pvt. "कालिका एफ एफ म्युजिक अवार्ड २०६९ बाट कसले कुन अवार्ड पाए (पुरा एक दशक को बिदाई)". kalikafm. Retrieved 11 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Kalika Music Awards held". The Himalayan Times. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "सुरु २०६८ : अञ्जु पन्त र दीपक लिम्बू". archive.nagariknews.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Yauta Atma Chha By Pashupati Sharma and Bishnu Majhi, archived from the original on 10 April 2020, retrieved 17 May 2020
- ^ a b c d "Sabin Rai and The Pharaoh win big at the annual Hits FM music awards". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b "HMA Winners 2074 | Hits FM 91.2 | Welcome". 6 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "विष्णु माझीका केही तथ्य". narimag.com.np (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "किन गुमनाम थिइन विष्णु माझी ?". radiokantipur.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "गायिका विष्णु माझी स्याङ्जा प्रहरी कार्यालयमा, ११ वर्षपछि भेटे बाबुले छोरी". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-063197-0.
- ^ Sitaldine pipal By Bishnu Majhi and Yam Chhetri, retrieved 17 May 2020
- ^ New Nepali Lok Dohori | Phool Ramro Gulab Ko - Bishnu Majhi and Yam Chhetri, retrieved 17 May 2020
- ^ New Nepali lok dohori song 2075 | सालको पातको टपरी Salko patko | Kulendra Bishwakarma & Bishnu Majhi, archived from the original on 10 May 2020, retrieved 17 May 2020