Siliguri, 09th February: Shanti Thatal, the first female music composer of the Nepali film industry, will be conferred with the prestigious Jagadamba Shree Purasakar in Devkota Sangh Bhawan in Siliguri on February 13.
The Madan Puraskar Guthi will be honouring the legendary music composer and singer in Nepali films Shanti Thatal with ‘Jagadamba-Shree Puraskar-2076’ for her significant contributions to the Nepali music industry for the past six decades. “Swar Samrat” Narayan Gopal was the first to achieve this award.
Know for her most famous song Samhalera Rakha, Shanti Thatal, has more than 200 songs to her credit, including music for several Nepali films. She composed the playback music for Ishwor Ballav’s musical play (gitikatha) called Yeuta Nilo Suryasta, after which she gained fame as a music composer. She went on to score music for the Nepali films Paral Ko Aago (1978) and Bachana Chahane Haru (1982). Some of her well-known songs are Mayalu Ley Samjhe Ki Kaso, Udi Jaun Bhaney Mo Panchi Hoina, Dherai Chubul Nagara, Samhalera Rakha, and Chaubandi Ko Toonama. She was awarded the Master Mitra Sen Smriti Award for Music in 2002 by the Sikkim government.
Shanti Thatal was born in Darjeeling, to Manu Singh Thatal (father) and Chandra Maya Thatal (mother). She initially learned music under the guidance of Shiva Prasad Singh and Bhanu Ghosh. After completing her schooling at St. Teresa School, Darjeeling and went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in music at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. After her education, she moved to Gangtok and worked as the Director at the Culture Department of the Sikkim government.
With her undying passion for music, Shanti Thatal continues to inspire generations of people.