Prem Dhoj Pradhan

Prem Dhoj Pradhan (6 June 1938 – 6 May 2021) was a Nepalese musician. He was a singer, composer, and regional playback singer who sang in the two major languages of Nepal, Newa and Nepali. He was also known as the Golden Voice and King of Romantic Melodies of Nepal.

Pradhan was the first musician to perform with a guitar in Nepal, the First to perform solo concerts, and the first Nepali singer to sing with Indian playback singer Usha Mangeshkar for the movie Maitighar in 1965. In 1985, he sang duet songs with Asha Bhosle for the movie Mayalu in Bombay, India. Pradhan varied his musical style throughout his career and recorded approximately more than 700 songs in both languages combined on Radio Nepal, including live broadcasting and recorded songs.

Early life

Prem Dhoj Pradhan was born on 6 June 1938, in Chautara, a small town 28 miles east of Kathmandu, to Ratna Dhoj Pradhan, a businessman, and Pran Devi Pradhan, a musician.

Pradhan's parents separated when he was young, and he went on to be raised by his mother and her family, who imbued in him a love of music. His mother was a talented performer and taught him about music. He also tells the story of listening to classical music for an hour every night with his grandfather at a time when the radio was banned for ordinary Nepalese.

Death Pradhan died on 6 May 2021, at Neuro and General Hospital, Sundhara, Kathmandu, after being hospitalized with breathing problems and chest pain.

Honours and awards Received Narayan Gopal Sangeet Samman from Lunkaran-Ganga CSKM, November 2002 Felicitated by Nepal Music Welfare Fund for significant contribution to Nepalese music