Dinesh Raj Puri, 34, who is originally from Ramechhap, is a renowned poet and lyricist, who has contributed a lot to Nepali literature and the folk music industry. Puri has written many poems, ghazals, and muktakas. He has also penned dozens of songs such as ‘Mayako Natak’, ‘Chal Chal’, ‘Je Man Lagcha Tei Gara’, ‘Hangako Phool’, and others. Not just that, Puri also wrote the song ‘Kasam Kasam’ for the Nepali movie ‘Ma Yesto Geet Gauchu - 2’ and ‘Tal Tal Talakkai’ for the movie ‘Jhinge Dau’. He is also associated with the Music Royalty Collection Society Nepal. Babita Shrestha from ApEx spoke to Puri about the essence of songwriting and the things that go on in his head when he sits down to write.
How did you start writing?
Ever since my childhood, I have been creative and I used to actively participate in writing competitions. When I was in middle school, I wrote a poem called ‘Garib Bhariya Ko Jindagi’, and the appreciation I got for it was actually what motivated me to write more. At a very young age, I was awarded many times in district-level essay competitions and even secured first and second positions in national-level poetry competitions. At that time, the school honored me by holding a press conference. The more I wrote, the more I got passionate about writing. As time passed, I became interested in learning about literature. I especially liked poetry and essays.
What made you venture into songwriting?
After coming to Kathmandu, I wanted to explore new things and became interested in music. I tried my hand at songwriting and came up with ‘Aasu Le Bato’. Renowned singer Ramesh Raj Bhattarai, who was on my Facebook friend’s list, liked the song and he approached me with the proposal of a collaboration. He recorded the song in Anju Pant’s voice. I was beyond honored to have worked with such great artists at the beginning of my career.
After the launch of my first song, I took a break. But when I had the opportunity to meet singer Arjun Pokharel, I shared some of my works with him. He liked my work because he hinted that he wanted to work with me. I was overwhelmed and I eventually began writing songs for him. I consider myself lucky to have gotten the chance I did. Since then, I’ve worked as a lyricist and written many songs including ‘Aat Garenau Bhaney’, ‘Dadai Kataula’, and ‘Chocolatey Syau’.
How do you ensure your songs are well received by the listeners?
I believe in originality. When I write, I’m not concerned about whether the song will be a hit. I just write. Most of the time, I write about what I’ve experienced, the effect different things have had on me, and the various cultures or realities of life that I have witnessed. I don’t force myself to be creative. I let the things I see and feel inspire me and that mostly happens when I’m enjoying solitude. I don’t keep up with what’s going on in the market. I don’t know what’s trending and all. So I guess what makes my work popular is its relatability.
What would you say is the biggest challenge of being a lyricist in Nepal?
Nowadays, the quest for market hits has hampered the Nepali music industry. Some artists are seen following market trends rather than coming up with creative work. Generally, artists channel personal experiences into generic themes, but the rise of vulgarism and double-meaning songs, I believe, is corrupting the industry.
There are also some new songwriters who pay to get their songs released, which is an unhealthy trend. Doing so is insulting the artists themselves. Also, I feel that lyricists and songwriters should be acknowledged like musicians, actors/actresses, and videographers. That’s not the case here in Nepal.
Is there any advice you’d like to give?
You can become anyone you want to be when you have an unwavering desire to do something. All you need is undivided dedication and hard work. When you feel disconnected from what you’re doing, look for something else that makes you happy. Go for it if you believe in yourself. Success is totally up to you. It’s within you. All you have to do is discover it. Above all, you must learn to create your individuality.
