The rise of a lok geet icon

FEB 04 – Singer Komal Oli has long been something of an inimitable figure in the Nepali folk music scene, and there are few aficionados of the genre who aren’t aware of her work. Oli’s talents are as diverse as they come; the singer/actor/comedian appears determined to excel at anything she dips her toes into, and any new venture is closely-watched and welcomed by her substantial fanbase.

 

Born in Dang, Oli grew up in a family where music was practically omnipresent. Her father would sing bhajans constantly, and she would sing along with him, which is where she says the “first stirrings of her love for music” began. Soon, she was entertaining friends and family with renditions of popular songs, and recognising her skills, her teachers at school encouraged her to take part in extracurricular activities. And singing wasn’t the only thing Oli proved talented at—she also stood out in other areas like debates and poetry recitations—all of which were indication that her place was on the stage. As if that wasn’t already proof of her versatility, Oli was also involved in sports. The singer actually represented the country as a runner in three SAF championships, held in Dhaka, Islamabad and Kolkata.