Author Archives: sajha_katha

Here is how the social media ban could affect Nepali film and music

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After the government decided to ban social media on Thursday, netizens have turned into frenzy . The government’s decision to deactivate popular platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, YouTube, and X has also sparked debates.

Some argue that this is a blow to democracy and freedom of expression, while others believe that big tech companies should come under Nepal’s law.

In this context, it is certain that the shutdown of social media will have a widespread impact on entertainment industries. In recent times, the ecosystem of Nepali film and music has revolved around social media. Be it promotion, box office, stardom-building, or interaction with audiences, social media has been an essential platform for the entire entertainment sector.

Here is how the ban of social media will affect the entertainment sector, particularly film and music. Firstly let’s begin with the film.

Impact of social media ban on film industry

Damage to marketing and promotion

Trailers, posters, teasers, songs, and other promotional content reach audiences through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. TikTok also has some role in this, but YouTube remains the main source. Without social media, the promotion system is bound to collapse. Promotion, which so far has been cost-free, will suddenly become expensive. Films set to release during Dashain may feel the immediate impact.

Reduced audience reach

Social media helps films reach audiences worldwide. Without these platforms, that reach will be significantly restricted.  Nepalis living abroad make up a large market for Nepali films. Without social media, films will lose connection with this global audience.

End of collaboration with influencers

Artists and content creators on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have been promoting films and interacting with fans. This style of promotion will stop.

Impact on the box office

Word of mouth spreads very quickly on social media. Without it, the footfall in the  theaters could decrease significantly.

Decline in global viewership

Nepali films that gain attention at international festivals often rise to fame through online popularity. Whether for festivals or foreign promotion, without social media, Nepali films risk losing global exposure.

Impact of social media ban on music industry

Loss in digital revenue

In recent times, for Nepali musicians and record labels, YouTube is the biggest source of income. The ban will directly cut down their earnings.

Burden for independent artists

Rappers, indie singers, and emerging bands rely on social media reels and YouTube for listeners. Without social media, new talents will struggle to break through. This was already seen when YouTube removed its trending page.

Halt of viral trends

Many Nepali songs become popular through social media dance challenges and reels. Without these, songs will lose wide reach and popularity.

Fewer global collaborations

In recent years, Nepali musicians have been collaborating with foreign artists and brands, with most connections starting on social media. Banning these platforms will reduce international opportunities, especially at a time when Nepali songs are being released in foreign languages as well.

Reduced fan interaction

Artists interact with fans through live sessions, comments, and inboxes. Losing this direct connection will affect their branding and engagement.

All you need to know about the Miss Nepal 2025 winners

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Winners of Miss Nepal 2025 in four categories have been announced. The Hidden Treasure declared the winners during the finale held on Saturday at the Sunrise Convention Center in Godawari.

These four winners represent the Gen-Z generation. A total of 26 finalists competed for the titles.

Here’s a brief introduction to the winners:

Luna Luintel (Miss Nepal World 2025)

Luintel, 26, a native of  Kathmandu, is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Sydney, Australia. With the motto “Learn, Study, and Return,” she aims to support Nepalis abroad who wish to return and contribute to Nepal.

She enjoys playing the flute, listening to podcasts, and exploring the underwater world as a scuba diver. She also loves swimming. Previously, she was the first runner-up of Miss Teen 2015. She aspires to provide transformative leadership in public health and spread global knowledge at the local level to create meaningful community impact.

Urusha Bhandari (Miss Nepal International 2025)

Bhandari, 26, of Lalitpur, is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery. She is passionate about academics, music, and staying connected with nature.

Through modeling, dentistry, and social service, she hopes to positively impact human lives. A fitness enthusiast, she enjoys playing the guitar, swimming, and basketball. She has walked the runway in well-known fashion shows such as TGIF, TPJFS, and Kathmandu Fashion Week. She aims to bring social change through her skills in oral surgery and media.

Sony Ghale (Miss Nepal Earth 2025)

Ghale, 25, from Dhunche in Rasuwa, is a kho-kho player and bodybuilder. With the aim of promoting educational equality, she has implemented the Ek Shiksha (One Education) project. She wants to bridge the gap between private and public education.

Through her NGO Khushi Kopila (Happy Bud), she is contributing to her community. She hopes to become a leader who moves forward with confidence and guides the future.

Deepshikha Nepal (Miss Nepal Cosmo 2025)

Nepal, 24, from Jhapa, is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. A researcher and outspoken advocate for environmental justice, she wants to link environmental issues with society. She has been working for youth, women, and communities affected by environmental challenges, and she seeks to provide policy-level training and advocacy at all levels of government.

Her interests include anchoring, singing, and reading books. In 2023, she participated in a United Nations environmental program on sustainable development held in Thailand.

For Nabin K Bhattarai live shows are the heart of music

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In the last three decades, singer-songwriter Nabin K Bhattarai has performed thousands of live shows at both national and international venues with his band. Even today, his passion for live performances remains the same. For him, performing live is what keeps music, and the entire art form alive. He especially cherishes the interaction with the audience that unfolds during his shows.

“Those interactions in live shows are one of the most beautiful parts of music,” says Bhattarai.

Together through music

Bhattarai, who loves performing live more than anything else, is now excited as he prepares to perform for the first time at Lord of the Drinks, one of the country’s top clubs, on August 23, with his band Nabin K Bhattarai and the Atripta which features Bhattarai on vocals, Bhaskar Raj Ghimire and Bishal Chhetri on guitar, Dhiraj Chhetri on keyboard, Chandan Darshandhari on bass and Prabhat Risal on drums.

Interestingly, he has never set foot in a club, not even as an audience member, which makes him all the more curious about this upcoming show.
Bhattarai, except in a couple of exceptional cases, has always performed with a band. He finds performing with a band more authentic and joyful, than performing in the karaoke. He has refused to perform in a lot of shows because the organiser asked him to perform in a karaoke.

The thing that keeps him connected to his band is his background in music education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in ethnomusicology from Kathmandu University, where he was part of the very first batch of students in the program. His education encouraged him to explore different instruments and helped him appreciate the essence of working together with band members.

Secondly, his inspirations, bands such as Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, and Guns N’ Roses, motivated him to perform with a band.

“Performing with a band has a different energy; it provides enough space for improvisation,” says Bhattarai. “Karaoke performances do not offer such an experience.”

Beauty in imperfection

Photo: Facebook/Atripta- Nabin K Bhattarai Band

Speaking to Onlinekhabar, Bhattarai recalls his first live show in the early 1990s at the National Academy Hall with his band Steel Wheels, where they performed Pink Floyd’s iconic track Time.

Since then, Bhattarai has witnessed a plethora of changes in the live music scene, in terms of stage setup, technology, equipment, audiences, and more. Back then, everything was analogue, whereas today almost everything has gone digital.

“The pace of technological advancement is so rapid that sometimes it’s hard to keep up,” says Bhattarai.

According to Bhattarai, the advancement of technology in music has been helpful in many ways, but at the same time, it is also making music sound robotic.

“Under the pretext of being perfect, musicians these days, even during live shows, are becoming overly dependent on technology, which in fact is killing the art,” says Bhattarai. “There is no such thing as perfection in art; the small errors that occur during a live performance are the true beauty of live music.”

Besides his evergreen hits like Aankhama Timilai, Timilai Ma Dobaato Ma, Eh Jhari, Sanjha Pakha, Raat Bityo and many others, Bhattarai is also well known for his live performances, which are consistently well received by audiences. According to him, practice, patience, and consistency are the key elements that make a band tight, ultimately allowing them to deliver a proper show.

His band also follows certain pre-show and post-show rituals, which, he believes, play a vital role in ensuring a good performance. One of their main rituals is practicing three days a week leading up to a show, but deliberately avoiding practice the day before. Each session lasts for a maximum of two hours.

“If we practice one day before a show and any band member makes a mistake during rehearsal, that mistake tends to linger in their mind, which can negatively affect their performance on stage,” says Bhattarai.

On the day of the performance, another pre-show ritual is to avoid talking about music as much as possible. After the show, however, the band reviews each other’s performances and works on resolving any issues to improve future shows.

Rachana Dahal to release Hey Bhagwan music video with live performance

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After three months of releasing the lyrical visualiser for Timi Bhaye from the album Janmadaag, which features rapper Dmriti, singer-songwriter Rachana Dahal is set to release the music video for Hey Bhagwan this Saturday at XO Club.

The music video premiere will be followed by a full live performance of the album Janmadaag. The performance will feature Dahal’s band, including Roshan Sharma (guitarist), Roshan Putwar (flute), Kiran Shahi (drummer), and Sanish Maharjan (bassist).

The technical team includes sound engineers Yukesh Pariyar and Iman Bikram Sha, lighting engineer Sakchhyam Chitrakar, and screen technician Kiran Thapa. Similarly, the artist management for the event has been done by Nirvikalpo.

Along with Hey Bhagwan and Timi Bhaye, the album also includes songs like Asambhav, Alagav, Daagbatti, and Aagya.

Rachana Dahal is widely acclaimed for her songwriting abilities. Her songs delve into themes such as toxic relationships, mental health, and emotional fallout—topics that are often under-discussed in Nepali society.

Nepal qualifies for T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time

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Nepal has qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held next year in India and Sri Lanka.

Under the ICC T20 World Cup Asia-Qualifier (East-Asia-Pacific), Nepal and Oman secured their places in the World Cup even before facing each other on Wednesday night after Qatar defeated Japan and the UAE beat Samoa in the Super Six stage.

Initially, the winner of the match between Nepal and Oman was supposed to qualify for the T20 World Cup. However, as the results of the previous matches turned in their favor, both teams booked their tickets to the World Cup before playing their last two Super Six matches.

In the Super Six, both Nepal and Oman have already won two consecutive matches, earning 6 points each. According to the qualification rules, the top three teams from the Super Six will advance to the World Cup.

Nepal had reached the Super Six by defeating Kuwait and Japan in the group stage. In the Super Six, Nepal has already beaten the UAE and Qatar, with matches against Oman and Samoa still remaining. Similarly, Oman has also defeated Qatar and the UAE.

After defeating Samoa, the UAE has collected 4 points and still holds a chance of qualifying for the World Cup. Samoa still has two matches left to play against Nepal and Oman while the UAE has one match remaining against Japan.

With this, Nepal and Oman have become the 18th and 19th teams respectively to qualify for the World Cup. The final (third) qualifying team from this tournament is yet to be decided.

Nepal played its first T20 World Cup in 2014. After waiting ten years, it qualified for the tournament again in 2024.

Although Nepal didn’t reach to next round after the group stage in the 2024 World Cup, it impressed the global cricket community by putting up a strong fight against South Africa and losing by only one run.

Lamichhane’s 5 wickets seal Nepal’s 5-run win over Qatar

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After Sandeep Lamichhane took 5 wickets, Nepal secured an exciting 5-run victory over Qatar in the Super Six stage of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier.

Chasing Nepal’s target of 148 runs, Qatar was bowled out for 142 in 19.5 overs. Opener Imal Liyanage scored 55 runs off 35 balls, while Zubair Ali contributed 52 runs. Other batters could not make significant contributions, leading to their defeat.

For Nepal, Lamichhane took 5 wickets, Nandan Yadav claimed 2, and Dipendra Singh Airee took 1 wicket.

Nepal once again staged a brilliant comeback against Qatar, who had been in a comfortable position at one point. Airee’s run-out and Adil’s run-out were crucial in turning the game in Nepal’s favor.

Earlier, after losing the toss and batting first, Nepal scored 147 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, with captain Rohit Paudel scoring a half-century.

Captain Rohit made 58 runs off 41 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee scored 26 runs off 21 balls. Gulshan Jha played a cameo of 16 runs off 8 balls.

For Qatar, captain Mirza Baig took 3 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs, Daniel Lewis also took 3 wickets, and Muhammad Asim claimed 1 wicket.

Nepal had previously defeated the UAE in the Super Six stage on Sunday.

Nepal secure dramatic one-run win over UAE in T20 Qualifier

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Nepal clinched a thrilling one-run victory over the UAE in the Super Six stage of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier.

Chasing a target of 141 runs set by Nepal, the UAE managed to score 139 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Despite a half-century from Alishan Sharafu, it wasn’t enough for his team to emerge victorious. He scored 58 runs, while Dhruv Parashar added 38 runs.

At one stage, the UAE was in a strong position at 82 for 1, but Nepal turned the game around by mounting pressure. When the UAE fell to 99 for 6, Parashar came to the crease and kept his team alive with some big shots.

In the final over, the UAE needed 10 runs. Facing Dipendra Singh Airee, Parashar hit a six off the first few balls but was caught out soon after. With 3 runs required from 2 balls, a run-out and a short run followed, leaving the UAE unable to add any more runs. They managed only one run off the final delivery, finishing just one run short of Nepal’s total.

For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, and Gulshan Jha each took one wicket.

Earlier, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Nepal made140 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs, led by opener Aasif Sheikh’s half-century.

Aasif scored 51 runs off 47 balls. Likewise, Kushal Bhurtel contributed 28 runs, captain Rohit Paudel made 20, and Gulshan Jha added 14 runs off just 5 balls before being dismissed.

Although Nepal reached 73 for 1 in the first 10 overs, their scoring rate slowed in the second half of the innings, preventing them from doubling the total.

For the UAE, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, Zahid Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, and Haider Ali each claimed one wicket.

Nepal to face UAE in Super Six clash of ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier

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Nepal is all set to play against the UAE in its first Super Six match of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier.

Having faced relatively weaker teams in the group stage, Nepal will now take on its familiar rival, the UAE, in its first Super Six encounter. The match will start at 4:15 PM (Nepali local time), Sunday, at Oman Cricket Academy Turf 1.

Both Nepal and the UAE remained unbeaten in the group stage and have entered the Super Six with 2 points each.

The match between Nepal and the UAE is often labelled the “Associate Rivalry.” Their recent form and past results have made these two sides strong competitors.

Today’s match will also be one of the most important games. The winning team will gain a strong start in the Super Six.

Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel said the UAE is a good team but will be treated as just another opponent.

“The UAE is one of the best teams in this tournament. If we play according to our basics and standards, we can win,” Paudel says. “The main thing is to focus on our strengths rather than who the opponent is.”

Meanwhile, UAE coach Lalchand Rajput said his team is ready to face strong teams like Nepal and Oman in the Super Six.

Recent form

Both teams are currently in good form. Before this qualifier, both played several international series and major tournaments.

Nepal recently made history by defeating the West Indies in a T20 series before the World Cup qualifier. Before that, Nepal had also traveled abroad for adequate preparation and practice matches.

Similarly, the UAE won a T20 series against Bangladesh and participated in the Asia Cup, gaining valuable match exposure.

In their last five T20I matches, Nepal has won four and lost one, while the UAE has won three and lost two.

Head-to-head

So far, Nepal and the UAE have played 10 T20I matches, with both teams winning five games each.

However, in matches played in Oman, the UAE has had the upper hand, winning all three encounters. This time, Nepal has the chance to change that record.

The last time they encountered was in the 2024 ACC Premier Cup in Oman, where the UAE defeated Nepal by six wickets. That loss ended Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the Asia Cup.

In crucial matches, both sides have taken turns stunning each other. The UAE defeated Nepal in the 2022 T20 World Cup Qualifier to reach the World Cup, but in the 2023 qualifier, Nepal turned the tables and eliminated the UAE.

In the T20I rankings, the UAE is currently 16th, while Nepal is 18th.

Players to watch

For Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel and Gulshan Jha could be key performers. Lately, Bhurtel has been in fine batting form, and Nepal’s innings will depend heavily on his start against the UAE.

Jha, meanwhile, has also performed well against the UAE in the past. He has already played a crucial role in the first two matches of this qualifier, including scoring a quick 20 off 6 balls in the opening game.

For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem will be their main player. His opening batting often dictates the team’s entire innings. In bowling, Junaid Siddique will be their main weapon, as he is the UAE’s leading wicket-taker.

Toss and probable XI

This ground has seen both low-scoring and high-scoring matches. Japan successfully chased 178 runs against Kuwait, the only high-scoring match so far. Most other games have been of moderate totals.

Nepal defended 141 runs against Kuwait, bowling them out for 83, while Oman chased 93 runs against Qatar at a slow pace.

Captains may prefer to bat first and post a good total to defend.

Nepal is likely to play with an unchanged lineup, though Kushal Malla could be replaced due to his weak form.

Nepal probable XI

Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla/Lokesh Bam, Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi

UAE probable XI:

Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Arfan, Rahul Chopra, Basil Hameed, Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Simarjeet Singh, Muhammad Rohid

Nepal’s Super Six Fixtures

  • Nepal vs UAE –October 12 (4:15 PM)
  • Nepal vs Qatar – Ashoj 13 (8:45 AM)
  • Nepal vs Samoa – October 15 (8:45 AM)
  • Nepal vs Oman – October 17 (4:15 PM)

All times are in Nepal local time. 

National Women Team’s six members to play T20 in Malaysia

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Six members of the National Women’s Cricket Team will be participating in the MCA Women’s T20 Inter-State Championship, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur. The championship is being organised by the Malaysian Cricket Association from October 17 to 27.

Sita Rana Magar, Kabitra Joshi, Rajmati Airee, Rubina Chhetri, Puja Mahato, and Kabita Kunwar will be attending the event, said Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Spokesperson Chhumbi Lama.

Prior to this, the Nepali Women’s Cricket Team had played in the Super Women Series held in Malaysia. During the series, Nepal played five T20 matches against the host and won the series 3-2

Nepal launches Micro-Folie to give free access to world-class artworks

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A new cultural platform called Micro-Folie has been launched in Nepal to provide free access to world-class artworks for art lovers and the general public.

Inaugurated on Saturday at Alliance Française in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Micro-Folie was started in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nepal and Alliance Française.

The main attraction of this initiative, led by the French Ministry of Culture, is a digital museum that brings together over 5,000 high-quality digitized artworks from 12 major global institutions and museums in one place.

According to information shared at the inauguration, Micro-Folie is coordinated by La Villette and includes art collections from 12 prestigious French institutions, including the Louvre Museum, Centre Pompidou, Château de Versailles, Opéra National de Paris, and Musée d’Orsay.

The platform has been designed as a multi-purpose space for various activities, with the primary goal of making art accessible to all audiences.

A press release from the embassy noted that this digital gallery covers treasures of human civilization across fine arts, architecture, scientific culture, and live performance.

Speaking during the inauguration, Virginie Corteval, French Ambassador to Nepal, said,
“France is proud to be part of this project, which brings thousands of artworks, shared heritage of humanity to this magical city of Lalitpur.”

She further added, “We hope that people of all generations in Nepal will take advantage of this unique opportunity to immerse themselves in art.”

Micro-Folie will be open for free to the general public with two sessions per week at Alliance Française, targeting especially families, school groups, and various organizations.