Menuka Paudel | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
When we meet 26-year-old Menuka Poudel, she’s sitting in her luxurious hotel room, a plate of food on the table and a glass of juice next to it. She had recently completed rehearsals with the Bengaluru-based band led by Rudolph David, former bassist of Thermal & A Quarter. Despite a hectic schedule at the 12th edition of the India Inclusion Summit held in Bengaluru on November 16 and 17, she was hardly tired, her smile unwavering. Music, she says, energizes her.
Growing up in Jhapa, Nepal, Menuka’s early life was immersed in raga-raag. In a hostel for the blind, she discovered music almost by accident. “There were musical instruments – harmonium, tabla,” she recalls. “We used to wake up at 4 in the morning and do riyaaz. I started listening to bhajans when I was 5 or 6 years old and started listening to music following my seniors.” These humble beginnings led to his lifelong relationship with music, which became known as devotional songs. And shaped by the teachings of his first music teacher from Darjeeling.
Music was never a choice – it was a calling. “My life is in music,” she says. Even as a child, she had an unwavering confidence in performing. “When I sing, I feel as if God is right in front of me. Music chose me. This spiritual connection fuels her artistry, turning every performance into an act of devotion, whether she is singing Asha Bhosle’s playful ‘Paan Khaye Saiya Hamarao’ or Lata Mangeshkar’s deeply soulful ‘O Palanhare’ . rent,
Menuka Paudel | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
path of challenges
Manuka’s path has been far from traditional. She participated in Nepal Idol at the age of 19, followed by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and most recently Indian Idol, where she reached the top 10 and became famous. However, her Indian Idol journey was full of challenges, from learning Hindi to overcoming the competitive rigor of reality TV. “Learning Hindi songs was difficult but beautiful,” he said. His persistence paid off; Her rendition of ‘O Palanhare’ brought tears to judge Shreya Ghoshal’s eyes and after singing her film song ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor touched her feet with reverence. pageant,
His understanding of music has evolved with time. “For example, take the song ‘Jaane Kya Baat Hai’. Cannot sleep. ‘Badi lambi raat hai’ (I wonder what it is. I can’t sleep. The night seems so long) from the movie Sunny. As a child, I didn’t know what the songs meant. I just listened to it and tried to repeat it. Now, I can watch the movie to understand the song better. I can sing as that character, which makes a big difference to the song.”
breaking barriers
“It is not true that a blind person cannot be popular,” she says, addressing the stereotypes often associated with disability. Through his presence on mainstream platforms, he has shown that talent knows no limits. His ability to connect with the audience, whether on the competition stage or during live performances, has made him an inspirational personality – something he is ashamed to admit.
Menuka recently realized her dream of playback singing Salaar After this, its composer Ravi Basrur saw him acting in Indian Idol. He sang the song ‘Sooraj Hi Chhaav Banke’ in the Hindi version of the film. “It was my dream to do playback singing,” she says, but recording the song was no easy task.
“There was a little Urdu in the song. That’s why I had some trouble in pronunciation. It took me four to five hours to record it. Then, the next day all the lyrics were changed, so I had to sing it again. On the third day of recording, Ravi Basrur sir told me to sing like I sang in Indian Idol, without any extra pressure and without Harakat (intricate and fast movements or embellishments in a musical phrase). So, I recorded the song three times.
She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree, training in Hindustani and Carnatic music. Her aspirations include more playback opportunities, live performances and perhaps, one day, working with AR Rahman – a dream she keeps to herself. But his ambitions go beyond personal milestones. She also wants to use her music to help others. “Music is everything to me. This is how I want to bring about change.”
published – December 10, 2024 10:59 am IST
