Being critical of one's own work is a mark of a true artist! - Hemanta Rana

A celebrity more accurately defines charisma, charm, balance, personality, benevolence and fortitude but in the absence of these vital attributes the so called celebrities just become 'another brick in the wall': influence-less and vile. In our search for candid interviews with star's who also are young achievers we met Hemanta Rana the 'new kid in the block' in the musical scenario. His honest and candid remarks, his generous and impressive personality and his respect towards his audience and his devotion towards his music reflects the true character of a 'celebrity', people who stand to inspire and motivate. Here's some excerpt from the 'Attitude free' singer who is completely true to his trade:

 

I am not a person who goes on finding gray shades in life because I know that there are green pastures that will tend to my needs and make me happy! Five years down the lane, I entered Kathmandu to practice for the 'Bushan Olympic games'. I was a Wushu player and my life's only motto then, was to win a medal for my country. But, unfortunately the entire trip was cancelled due to political interference and my dream of fame and success was shattered! I was very frustrated, nothing seemed to work out but I did not give up. Somewhere deep inside me, I knew that one day my dream of representing my country in an international arena would come true.

 

Along with 'Wushu' singing was also part of my life. People told me that I had a good voice and this encouragement helped me gain enough courage to go to pubs and restaurant to sing. One day, I was singing in a restaurant when the owner of a popular music label noticed me and proposed to launch me. I went to meet him the next day and suddenly life took a sudden twist. I signed a five year contract with the company. I was a bit unnerved because I was determined to become a player but there I was, being offered to sing which fell lower down in my priority list. I felt things were going a bit too fast for me, but I seriously thought about it and made up my mind 'I would give it a go and try out singing "A newbie in the musical scenario is treated like an outcast.....

 

I loved the attention and the appreciation that many noted musicians and singer gave me but, having said that I was also constantly dotted upon by many members of the music fraternity and that was indeed de-motivating. I was a 'newbie' who wanted to make it big but things do not unfold as we want it to, because a 'Newbie' in the musical scenario was moreover treated like an outcast.

 

It was frustrating enough to see that a single song took months to complete recording. You had to beg your way through to get the record date and again you had to constantly coax musicians, the arrangers and every single person who marked the chain to complete a single album. But alas after 2 years of sweating out my patience my first album 'Paap Punya' was released and guess what? After everything that I had gone through, the audience thumped my work! The album was declared a flop!

 

People ask me whether I was disheartened when the audience discarded my offering but I would smile and say 'I am not in a position to say anything, the audiences are the final judges and they have passed their verdict' but I was no cry baby, I knew the album had some serious flaws and I was determined not repeat it again. These mistakes became learning's for the future and I believe that being critical of one's own work is also a mark of being a true artist.

 

My failure taught me the value of patience and perseverance. I constantly calculated my step and kept on reminding myself that I would launch myself again but this time I would be ready to strike the right cords with my audience. I jammed up together with my friends in pubs and restaurants. These regular gigs not only became a source of regular income but also useful in terms of honing my singing capabilities.

 

People slowly started taking notice of me; I spared no cards as I kept on experimenting my singing and music in different styles. I became particularly conscious of what the audience wanted to hear and also started marking down my target audience. I used to sing 'Sufi' songs and it was surprising to see that many people loved the music even though if it was not Nepali. I then I decided to decode a sense of Sufi in my future songs and after 1 year of hard work I was ready to launch myself again with my next album 'Laija re' and the success that followed next was overwhelming.

 

Today people believe that once you have given a 'hit' means you are a permanent fix! But I don't agree to the principle because even though I am considered a successful singer my musical journey does not end here. My audience will be expecting more musical hits from me which means I have to work real hard to feed to their expectations, therefore there is no safe landing. Creativity, patience and hard work are vital attributes that need to be nurtured and I will always be judged by what I deliver ant not what I could deliver. There will be no soft corner from the audience based on the glories of my yester years

 

My parents did not believe in my singing career; they considered it a pure hobby which did not have scope in Nepal. But I wanted to prove them wrong because after witnessing what the musical scenario is like here in Nepal I believe that it has huge potentials for good singer to embrace it as a career. There is demand for good music, and if we cater to the audiences' demand no doubt there is a market for our songs and a promising career. I have heard many budding singers complain about the harshness they had to face in the initial period but we should not forget that failure and defeat helps us understand the real meaning of success. As for me, my failures have helped me mature myself as a person and nurtured my singing talent making it compatible to make a connection with my audience.

 

To catch up with me just drop an email to:hemanta_wushu@yahoo.com