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Prem Raja Mahat

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Prem Raja Mahat
प्रेमराजा महत
Mahat giving interview to Baltimore magazine in 2017
BornSeptember 22
Tanahun, Nepal
NationalityNepali
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1978–present
Spouse
Kabita Mahat
​
(m. 1987)​
[1]
Children4
Musical career
GenresFolk
Instruments
Labels

Prem Raja Mahat (Nepali: प्रेमराजा महत) is a Nepalese folk singer. He has sung songs like Bajho Khet Ma, Paan Ko Paat, Balla Paryo Nirmaya, and Simsime Panima, which are considered timeless Nepali classics.[2][3][4] He is also renowned for playing sarangi, a traditional instrument from Nepal used primarily in folk music.[5]

Along with another well-known artist in Nepali folk music, Bam Bahadur Karki, he sang Khola Pari Nirmaya, Music Nepal's first folk song which was released in 1986.[6] Additionally, he has sung for Nepali feature films, such as Paat Bajaune Mayalai for the 2005 film Muglan. Due to his prominence in Nepali music, he is often compared to well-known artists like Elvis Presley in the western world.[1][7]

Personal life

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Mahat playing sarangi

Prem Raja Mahat was born in Dhorphirdi, Tanahun, Nepal.[8] He lost both of his parents when he was very young; his mother at the age of seven and his father at the age of nine. He married Kabita Mahat in 1987.[1] He immigrated to the United States in 1996, when he was 33 years old. Later, in 2001, his family joined him in the States. He also owns a Nepali restaurant in Baltimore.[9][10] He continued to contribute new Nepali folk music after relocating to the States, such as the well-liked 2021 song Maya Bandipuraima.[11][12]

Mahat plays the sarangi, madal, and harmonium, the first two of which are indigenous Nepalese instruments.[2][5]

Career

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Mahat first sang for the radio in 1978, and his first song was also recorded in the same year. His first song was Tara Khaseko, which was a hit.[2] His songs gained immense popularity in the late 1980s and the 1990s; since then he has been active in Nepali folk music.[11][13] Because of his contribution towards Nepali folk music, he has earned recognition among the Nepali people.[10][14]

In 2022, singer Rekha Shah accused Mahat for stealing her song Simsime Panima, which was sung by the two of them. Shah filed a petition in Music Nepal where she claimed she is the lyricist and the producer of the song therefore holds the copyright of the song, but Mahat did not gave her the credits, and released it as it were only his work. She also claimed she originally sang the song solo on Radio Nepal singing competition, where she met Mahat, who requested her to sing it together and release it.[15]

Selected discography

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Mahat has released over 59 albums, and many singles. Only a small number of his albums are represented in the list below.[2][3]

  • Aakasaima Joon
  • Hiunchuli Ma Hiun
  • Mutu Ko Dhadkan
  • Gaaumai Ramailo
  • Phool Phulyo Sanhila
  • Mayale Taana Rasile
  • Bajho Khetma
  • Panko Paat, Vol. 1
  • Sannani
  • Simsime Panima
  • Salaiko Paataile
  • Phool Fulyo Sahila
  • Dautari
  • Chari Himalma
  • Trisulima Bhel
  • Bandipuraima

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c McLaughlin, Corey (May 30, 2017). "Elvis of the Himalayas". Baltimore. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d गिरी प्रेरणा, गोविन्द (March 7, 2020). "'संगीतको भाषा हुँदैन, अमेरिकीहरू पानको पातमा नाच्छन्'". Online Khabar (in Nepali). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Paan ko Paat- The song that never gets old". Special Broadcasting Service. May 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  4. ^ पौड्याल, अजवी (August 19, 2021). "चन्द्र सूर्य झन्डा बोकी आयो नेपाली". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Lee & Nadeau 2011, p. 863.
  6. ^ Stirr 2017.
  7. ^ Gorelick, Richard (January 16, 2015). "The 'Bob Dylan of Katmandu' welcomes diners to Nepal House in Mount Vernon". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  8. ^ श्रेष्ठ, किरण (October 17, 2017). "मन नेपालमै छः प्रेमराजा महत". RatoPati (in Nepali). Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Warren, Rachel Anne (January 27, 2015). "Prem Raja Mahat of Nepal House is an international music superstar in his spare time". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ a b सापकोटा, निरञ्जन (November 12, 2016). "प्रवासमा प्रेमराजा महत". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  11. ^ a b घिमिरे, राजन (December 4, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको माया बन्दीपुरैमा". Gorkhapatra. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  12. ^ क्षत्री, डब्बु (November 28, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको गीतमा छमछमी नाचे मुख्यमन्त्री राजेन्द्र राई". Rajdhani (in Nepali). Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "प्रेमराजा महतको 'पिपल डाँडे साइँली' गीत सार्वजनिक". Image Khabar (in Nepali). July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "लोकगायक प्रेमराजा महतलाई दमौलीमा सम्मान". RatoPati (in Nepali). October 29, 2017. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "प्रेमराजा महतले गीत अतिक्रमण गरेको भन्दै रेखा शाहले दिइन् म्युजिक नेपालमा निवेदन". Online Khabar (in Nepali). July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2023.

Bibliography

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