This year claimed the lives of many talented individuals from the world of Nepali cinema, literature and others, creating a void that can never be filled. Here is the list of some of the Nepali celebrities who passed away in 2017.
Bikram Pariyar
Occupation: Theatre actor
Murdered near a polling center in Tanahun on May 14, 2017
Major works: He was associated with Studio Actors’ Nepal, and also was actively involved in the music industry
Rudra Prasad Bhattarai ‘Lajalam’
Occupation: Actor/comedian
Passed away on December 7, 2017 night at his residence in Biratnagar due to various ailment
Major works: He had acted in TV serial ‘Tito Satya’ including films like ‘Wada No 6’ and ‘Chakka Panja’.
Nilu Doma
Occupation: Director
Passed away due to a cardiac arrest on July 1, 2017
Major works: She worked as a director for ‘How Funny’ and also as an assistant director for the movie ‘Soongava’.
New year, new hopes
Bishnu Bhakta Phuyal
Occupation: Actor
Collapsed on stage at the age of 79 on January 3, 2017 while acting in the play ‘Maharshi Yagyabalkya’
Major works: He was a veteran actor, a popular figure in Nepali theater, television and film. His famous works include ‘Ghanachakkar’, ‘Oedipus Rex’, ‘Nyaya Premi’, ‘Bagbhairav’ and ‘Chudiyeka Samjhanaharu’, as well as in TV serials like ‘Abiral Bagdachha Indrawati’, ‘Tito-Satya’.
Prema Shah
Occupation: Writer
Major works: Prema was active in writing children’s literature. She had published various children’s literature books including ‘Pahelo Gulab’, ‘Bisayantar’, ‘Mummy’ and ‘Aakash’.
Anil Adhikari aka Yama Buddha
Occupation: Rapper, songwriter
Was found hanging by the ceiling in his bathroom in the UK on January 14, 2017
Major works: He came to the spotlight through his songs ‘Sathi’, ‘Aama’, ‘Yo Prasanga’ and ‘Antya Ko Suruwat’. He was also the founder and host of the ‘Rap Battle show Raw Barz’.
Dina Bangdel
Occupation: Art historian
Died at the age of 54 on July 26, 2017 while undergoing treatment against Meningitis
Major works: She was recognized internationally for her expertise in South Asian and Himalayan arts
Basudev Munal
Occupation: Radio program presenter and singer
Passed away at the age of 68 on September 28, 2017 due to throat cancer
Major works: He started his career as a RJ at Radio Nepal. He worked there for nearly four decades and sang dozens of songs like ‘Pani Khane Niule Timro Gharma Aaunla’, ‘Lalupatey Hulera Lal Bhayo’, ‘Bansuriko Dhunma Madaluko Taalma’, and ‘Jham Jham Istakot’.
Surya Prasad Subedi
Occupation: Author and social worker
Died at the age of 72 on October 24, 2017 due to lungs cancer
Major works: He had published ‘Srijana Ra Dristikon’, a collection of interviews of various authors and writers from 2030 BS to 2070 BS.
Jagadish Shamsher Rana
Occupation: Multi-faceted author
Died at the age of 88 on October 9, 2017 due to heart failure
Major works: He was honored with the Madan Puraskar award for his literary work ‘Narsingh Awatar’. His ‘Seto Khyak’ also received accolades from various prominent people.
Pradip Singh
Occupation: Actor
Passed away on April 21, 2017 evening due to kidney ailment
Major works: Pradip had advocated for the rights of the Nepali film fraternity while he was a member of the Nepal Film Artists Association (NFAA) and has acted in films including ‘Padmini’, ‘Deuta,’ ‘Rahar’, ‘Mitjyu’.
Kusum Gajmer
Occupation: Lyricist
Passed away in Mumbai on June 2, 2017 at the age of 72 due to liver ailment
Major works: She wrote many hit songs for Nepali movies like ‘Kusume Rumal’, ‘Lahure’, ‘Behuli’, ‘Chino’, ‘Basuri’ and ‘Darpan Chhaya’ among others.
Shanta Kumar Rai
Occupation: Artist
Died on September 21, 2017 due to stomach cancer
Major works: Shanta Kumar Rai had 19 group exhibitions in Nepal and abroad. Rai was affiliated with the Nepal Water Color Society, Kirat Fine Art Society, Society of Modern Artists and New Art Circle. He was also the Co-coordinator at Loktantrik Lalitkala Munch. He was a former academician of the National Academy of Fine Arts.
Surendra Pradhan
Occupation: Artist
Passed away on October 23, 2017 at the age of 52 due to cancer
Major works: He contributed to the art field with his cubism-inspired compositions and started a unique take with the fusion of modernism in Nepali arts.
