Shambhujeet is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award; Prabin and Sarika are named Best Male and Female Singers at the 13th Music Khabar Music Awards.

Kathmandu. The ‘13th Music Khabar Music Awards – 2082’ has concluded with great grandeur. Held in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, this edition continued a tradition established 13 years ago under the motto of “honoring veterans and encouraging the new generation.” Awards were presented across 33 categories of music, with the ultimate winners selected from the top five nominees in each category. The event, held amidst a vibrant musical atmosphere, was graced by the presence of the Right Honorable Parmanand Jha, Nepal’s first vice president, as the chief guest.

The event, presented by Music Khabar and organized by Shuvakamana Media Solutions, was chaired by Radheshyam Lekali, the advisor for the awards. The event was attended by distinguished personalities from the film and music sectors, including Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC; former minister, senior poet, and lyricist SP Koirala; senior writer-director Mohan Niraula; senior composer Shakti Ballabh; honored lyricist Chudamani Devkota; Lyricists’ Association of Nepal President Basanta Bityasi Thapa; renowned singer Mira Rana; and senior singer Devika Bandana.

At the award ceremony, the distinguished musician and ‘Sangeet Ratna’ Shambhujeet Baskota—a stalwart of the music industry who has made continuous contributions to the development of Nepali music—was honored with the ‘Music Khabar Deergha Sadhana Samman 2082’ (Lifetime Achievement Award). Suman Pandit, the event’s chairperson, stated that the award—comprising a certificate of honor, a traditional shawl, and a cash prize of Rs 51,000 provided by the organizers—was presented by the chief guest, the Honorable former Vice President Parmananda Jha. Singer Tika Prasai gave a musical performance in honor of musician Baskota.

Similarly, the prestigious lyricist Unnati Shila Bohara was conferred the ‘Music Khabar Shabd Shila Bishishta Samman.’ She was honored in recognition of her 35-year-long contribution to music and literature.
Similarly, veteran lyricist Bijaya Shivakoti was presented with the ‘Musickhabar Silver Music Honor’ at the ceremony. He was honored in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to the Nepali music sector spanning over 25 years.

Similarly, the ‘Music Khabar Decade Music Honor’—presented annually by Music Khabar—was awarded this time to popular singer Shiva Pariyar and singer Kalika Roka Magar. At the ceremony, lyricists Purushottam Sanu and Sushila Paudel were honored with the ‘Music Khabar Youth Music Honor.’
Pushpa Khanal, who has been contributing to the Nepali music scene through songwriting while residing in the United States, was honored with the ‘Music Khabar Diaspora Music Award.’ Similarly, journalists Kuber Giri and Gopikrishna Chapagain were honored with the ‘Music Khabar Music Journalism Award,’ each receiving a cash prize of Rs. 5,555. Similarly, talented child artist Yunish Ghimire was honored with the ‘Music Khabar Child Talent Award.’ Likewise, singer Nita Acharya was presented with the ‘Diaspora Singing Award’ in recognition of her contributions to Nepali music while pursuing her singing career abroad.

Similarly, Dr. Ranjit Jha was honored with the ‘Music Khabar Music Personality Award’ for his contributions to the fields of singing and music, while Udayaraj Sharma received the ‘Music Khabar Media Personality Award’ for his contributions through journalism.
The panel of judges for the awards was led by popular lyricist Lokraj Adhikari and included senior lyricist-composer Kastup Panta and popular singer Devi Gharti, among others. The award ceremony featured musical performances by various artists.

At this year’s ceremony, the Khabar Music Awards were presented across 33 categories related to music. In the ‘Sugam Sangeet’ (melodic/contemporary) category, singer Pravin Bedwal and singer Sarika Ghimire emerged as the best male and female vocalists, respectively. Bedwal won the award for Best Male Vocalist in the Sugam Sangeet category for the song “Hridayama,” while Ghimire secured the award for Best Female Vocalist in the same category for the song “Gun Bhulyau.”

Lyricist Dambar Yakso was named the Best Lyricist in the Sugam Sangeet (melodic contemporary) genre for the song “Muskan Chhaina Aaja,” while Shankar Thapa “Smile” won the award for Best Composer for the song “Mera Surharu.” Sarala Shrestha was honored as the Best Female Lyricist for the song “Dukhen Dherai Dukhna Pugyo,” and Manoj Khadka won the award for Best Diaspora Lyricist for the song “Tejaswi Apsara.” Additionally, Narendra Biyogi secured the award for Best Music Arranger for the song “Raat Kina Hunchha Hajur.”

In the realm of Sugam Sangeet, Jharna Risal won the award for Best Music Video Model for the song “Timi Aankha Ma Nani,” while Suresh Kohli bagged the award for Best Male Music Video Model in the same genre for the song “Mero Jindagiko.” Ajay Regmi won the award for Best Cinematography for the music video “Namaste Dhogdiya,” while Padam Subedi secured the award for Best Editing for the video “Bhagaula Trishuli Tarera.” Rahul Shah won the Best Direction award for the video “Aago Laidinchu,” and Naresh BBC received the award for Best Sound Editing for the song “Oi Nakkale.”

Karnaraj Giri and Kamala Regmi won the award for Best Duet Song for “Ho,” while Surendra Khadka bagged the award for Best Song with a Patriotic Theme for “Hamro Desh.” Dhanbir Thapa Magar won the award for Best Pop Lyricist for the song “Badalpari.” Arjun Pokharel secured the award for Best Pop Composer for “Oi Nakkale,” Rabin Shrestha won Best Male Pop Vocalist for “Priya Jindagi,” and Aashra Kunwar won Best Female Pop Vocalist for “Itihas.”

In the film category, Suraj Pandit (for the song “Chyatiyeko Choli” from the movie Laaj Sharanam) and Jhuma Limbu (for the song “Phakauncha Kafle” from the movie Oonko Sweater) were declared Best Male and Female Playback Singers, respectively. Thaneshwor Gautam was named Best Music Composer for the song “Raat Kina Huncha Hajur” from the movie Angela, while Yubaraj Kafle was awarded Best Lyricist for the song “Phakauncha Kafle” from the movie Oonko Sweater.

In the Lok Dohori category, Arjun Sapkota won the award for Best Lok Dohori Male Singer for the song “Dukha Satamla,” while Laxmi Acharya secured the award for Best Lok Dohori Female Singer for the song “Nauli Hadeli.” Additionally, Nabin Pariyar won the award for Best Lok Dohori Composition for the song “Jam Bho Hind Railaima Salala,” and Prasad Lamichhane won the award for Best Lok Dohori Lyrics for the song “Sarara.”

In the music video model category, actor Paul Shah and model Narayani Khatri won awards for the song “Karimailai.” Deep Gurung won the award for Best Music Video Director (Lok-Dohori) for the song “Timrai Maya Launcha Ni.” In the Lok-Dohori “New Talent” category, Rekha Pokhrel (for the song “Dekhauna Lai Hoina Ni Maya”) and Manohar Sharma (for the song “Timro Manma Kun Cha”) secured awards. Similarly, Sushila Gautam won the award for Best Cultural Song (Female Vocalist) for the song “Gulmi Chandrakot.”

Similarly, awards were secured by Kalyan Shrestha (Lyricist – Yaadharu Dukhirahancha), Parasmani Baral (Lyricist, Patriotic Song – Rajneeti Bhaneko Ta), Sunil Upreti (Pop Vocalist – Sagarjhai Gahiro), Keshav Bhattarai (Lyricist, Modern Song – Dhamiliyo Aakash Aaja), Chhiring Bhutia (Vocalist – Pahadi Bato), and BB Anuragi (Composer – Phoolko Aafnai Katha Chha).

At the awards ceremony hosted by renowned announcers Manju Paudel and Nirajan Bhandari, artists such as Paul Shah, Narayan Khatri, Tika Prasai, Dewan Khanal, and Yunish Ghimire delivered musical performances.
The award ceremony was sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Suryajyoti Life Insurance, the Film Development Board, Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank Limited, Agricultural Development Bank Limited, Laligurans Jewellery, and Himalaya Premium Lager Beer, among others.