Deep Shrestha

Deep Shrestha (Nepali: दीप श्रेष्ठ) is a singer and musician of Nepal.

Deep Shrestha composed his first song, Ma Patharko Deuta Haina, when he was 14. Comes from a musical family as his father was an ustaad and played the violin and the flute. He became familiar with other musicians at an early age through his father. Shrestha formally started his musical career in late 1960s, the time, which is deemed as the golden era of Nepali modern music. Before this he used to perform in cultural programs and other functions locally organized in the eastern region. He has been popular among the audience since the very beginning of his musical career.

'Ma Paththarko Devata Hoina, Todiyara Jodine'

This song, whose theme translates to 'I am not a stone idol that can be broken and carved', was recorded at the obsolete studio of Radio Nepal about three and a half decades ago. The song-with the same old recording quality- is still widely popular and will remain popular in the years to come. Interestingly, this was the first song that Shrestha had composed and recorded.

The musical family background could have been one privilege that Shrestha got. Both his parents, Ustad Jaya Narayan Shrestha and Indira Shrestha were popular in the eastern region as singers. This legacy instilled an inclination and nurtured the flair for singing in junior Shrestha.

He got an opportunity to officially pursue this natural flair when a theatre team from Dharan came to Kathmandu to stage a drama in Rastriya Nachghar to a group of elite audience including Late King Mahendra. Shrestha was given the role as a singer. Shrestha's melodious voice and well composed music held everyone spellbound. King Mahendra was so impressed that he allowed Shrestha to record as many songs as he wished. In 2025 (Bikram Era), when even established singers had to wait for many days to get a date to record songs in Radio Nepal-the only recording studio then, this was a great opportunity to the new artiste.

"I then recorded six songs including 'Ma pattharko devata hoina'," reminisces Shrestha. The songs instantly became very popular.

In the subsequent years, he would come to Kathmandu once in a year and record a few songs and go back to his hometown. After 2028, Shrestha started participating in the Nationwide Music Competition, which led him to win the first prize in vocal later in 2030, when he had sung the song 'Bidhawako Sindoorko Rahar'.

He was active in the field of music for another decade. Then, slowly, Deep Shrestha began to stop singing. Shrestha was busy with his own official work and in his own words, 'did not feel like recording new songs.'

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Wikipedia