Partynepal’s big and wild Grind III
After a six-year hiatus, the third edition of Partynepal’s flagship event, “The Grind” is slated this year for September 14-15 at the Tiger Palace Resort, Bhairahawa. Partynepal Outdoors announced this at a press meet at Octave Kathmandu on August 7.
Dubbed the “biggest pool party in Nepal,” the previous editions of The Grind were organized in 2011 and 2012 at Riverside Springs Resort, Kurintar. “Both the events were sold out and for the third edition, we plan to make the event bigger and better,” Shree Gurung, the Managing Director of Partynepal said.
The Grind III aims to promote internal tourism in the country. Three chartered flights will carry the party crowd from Tribhuvan International Airport to Gautam Buddha Airport, Bhairahawa and then to the five-star luxury resort with the largest swimming pool in Nepal. The event will feature prominent Nepali DJs, performers, and other recreational activities.
The tickets range from Rs 7,000 to Rs 150,000 and are available at major restaurants in Kathmandu including Calm (Tangalwood), Trisara (Lazimpat/Durbarmarg), Tamarind (Jhamsikhel), Octave Lounge (Durbarmarg), Captain’s Grill (Boudha) and Coffee Express (Sherpa Mall).
For more information log in to www.partynepal.com
Mohini Dey-loaded Underside create perfect chaos
The Purple Haze Rock Bar in Thamel was jam-packed on August 4: taking in 1,000 folks, most of them dressed in black, creating a claustrophobia-inducing atmosphere. Most of these ‘metalheads’ in their late teens and early twenties (strictly 18+ was the venue policy) were there to witness Underside, the biggest metal band in Nepal featuring the global talent Mohini Dey on bass. When it comes to the underground scene in Nepal, Underside needs no introduction. Formed in 2010, it did not take the band long to rise to the top of the domestic circuit, and create ripples around the world. The metal core band is probably the only Nepali band with an international fan following, and not just among Nepali expats. It has travelled extensively to Europe, Asia and Australia to share stage with some of the most famous international acts. It was on its last Australia tour that Underside had a chance encounter with Mohini Dey—the 22-year -old bass prodigy from India who is a regular member of AR Rahman’s troupe and has also collaborated with world renowned musicians like Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Louis Banks and Dave Weckl.
“Mohini came to our show in Sydney and she really liked our music,” says Bikrant Shrestha, guitarist and founding member of Underside. “We hung out after the show and she offered to collaborate.” The quartet that forms Underside—Avishek KC on vocals, Bikrant Shrestha and Bikash Bhujel on guitars and Nishant Hagjer on drums—were performing without a live bass player and instead using backing tracks of bass on stage. “We were also thinking of inviting Mohini to play with us so this collaboration was meant to happen,” Shrestha adds.
Dey’s first performance with the heavy metal giants of Nepal brought the house down at Purple Haze, leaving the audience comprising of music fans and musicians mesmerized. Dey easily inserted herself into the technically difficult music of Underside, while making the songs her own with her unique techniques and unmatched ability. With Dey completing the void in the rhythm section for Underside, the band churned out its hits like Disconnect, Animals, Right to Hate, Welcome to the Underside and All Notes Off while also performing new songs from their upcoming album including the anticipated “Gadhi Mai.”
Despite the sweltering heat and the congested space, the audience got what it came for and there was no reluctance in ‘head-banging’ and ‘mosh pitting’ to the heavy music. (Separately, Dey conducted a special workshop for Nepali bass players on August 6, offering tips and sharing her life experiences.)
When asked if Dey is to become a permanent member of Underside, Shrestha says, “We can’t exactly call her our permanent member but yes, she is now an integral part of the Underside family.” Dey will be playing with Underside on major shows and music festivals and will also be recording with the band in its upcoming album scheduled for early next year.
Underside and Dey will next perform together on August 12 at the Bloodstock Open Air concert which is considered the ‘UK’s number 1 metal festival’.
Photos credit: Dipit Raz
Tasty, quick and clean Weekend Drink
Looking for a quick bite amid the hustle and bustle of mid-day Putalisadak? Then Tasty Bites Burger should be among your first options. It is clean, cozy and cheap—what more can you ask from a fast-food joint? Tasty Bites Burger offers burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs among other delicious fast food. Also included in the menu are an assortment of drinks like coffee, milkshakes and aerated beverages. Finding the small joint might be a little tricky. It is at Dhobidhara, around 200 meters towards Kamalpokhari from the one-way lane right next to Star Mall in Putalisadak. You might want to park elsewhere because it does not have its own parking space but hey, it’s Putalisadak. No one has private parking here.
THE MENU
Chef’s Special:
- The TBB Special Burger
- Shredded Chicken Sandwich
- BBQ Chilli Dog
Opening hours: 10 am - 8:30 pm
Location Dhobidhara, Ktm
Cards: Not Accepted
Meal for 2: Rs 600
Reservations: Not Required
How the ace actor conquered Nepali film industry
Bipin Karki is one the most versatile actors in modern Nepali cinema. Karki, who has acted in over a dozen Nepali movies, is best known for his role as the local goon “Bhasmey don” in the acclaimed movie “Pashupati Prasad”. It also earned him his first National Film Award.
It was Karki’s love of literature that inspired him to act. A hard-worker who never compromises with his work, Karki has a special way of preparing for his roles. He rereads the scripts countless times to get under the skin of his characters. He then endlessly discusses his roles with his directors in order to work how and when to improvise, and tweak the script.
“I work to make my character interesting for audiences of all age groups,” he says. But first, he wants to convince his directors and producers. “Sometimes they are pleased to see that the character they had in mind is someone completely different.” That is how Karki adds versatility to his roles. “Bhasmey don” was one such outcome of this creative process. Perhaps because he puts in so much he is mentally exhausted at the end of his shoots.
Although celebrated as a versatile actor, Karki is still critical of his work. “I still find little mistakes. Although I have been praised for the characters I have played, I want to keep improving on what I do,” Karki says.
“Acting mimics human life,” is a mantra Karki received from one of his gurus, which he still abides by. Karki says it took time for him to understand what it meant. “There are millions of people in this world but no two people are the same,” says Karki. “This is why I want to do different characters. I prefer not to play the same role twice.”
Karki considers Saugat Malla his inspiration and someone who prompted him to take a broader perspective on acting. “He taught me a lot. He put in so much effort even into small roles,” he says. “I was fortunate to be his roommate in Gurukul. He is my big brother, my friend and also my guru.”
Bipin Karki is now one of the highest paid actors in the Nepali film industry, on the back of a string of hits like “Hari”, “Nakaa,” and “Jatra”. But things were not always easy for him and he has had his share of struggles to reach this point in his career. It was a lot of hard work, mixed with some luck, which turned a Nepali literature and sociology student into an actor of the finest finesse.
As a college student, Karki had once visited Gurukul to watch a play and immediately got fascinated by the world of theater. “I found dramas the most powerful form of literature, where one could express one’s true feelings with ease,” says Karki. “That first show captivated me and from that point visiting Gurukul became a routine.”
With the passage of time he became more and more interested in acting. Gurukul cast him for a street play when they were short of an actor and thereafter Karki started getting small roles in theater. But he was not satisfied. “The human heart is hard to please. I hungered for something bigger and better,” he recalls.
Again a stroke of luck had him replace an actor in a major production. His peers and seniors at Gurukul were quick to recognize his dedication and offered him work as a set assistant. He spent almost 10 years in Gurukul before it closed down. Not a sad ending for him though as it motivated him to look for work in the film industry and the rise of the character actor began. Karki debuted alongside his friend Saugat Malla in “Acharya,” playing a small role as his sidekick.
From being a sidekick to acting in a lead role in ‘Hari’, Karki has indeed had a rollercoaster ride. “Someone said, if you want something with your whole heart, the world will somehow get it for you,” says Karki. “All I had was a dream and the will to make it happen, and now it’s a reality”.