By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, January 14: One of the most popular modern Tibetan pop singers Phurbu T. Namgyal from USA gave his first live performance in Kathmandu on Friday at the Everest Hotel in support of ‘Phen De’, a project to support a Tibetan old age home in Bouda.
Besides presenting his popular hit numbers like Tashi Karma Sang, Ngayi Tsomo, Chak Sum Tsel, Phayul Malho, Nyam Dhu Dro and others, he also performed some popular traditional numbers in tune with the traditional Tibetan lute (dranyen).
Other local artistes, including Nimdol and Pasang of Gangjong Band also presented songs to join Phurbu in the noble cause.
Another popular Tibetan comedian-singer Tenzin Gyalpo aka Michael presented some of his hits, including ‘kargil la thangpo lebdhu’ and entertained crowd by cracking some of his popularly repeated humorous jokes. He also took opportunity in releasing his latest album ‘Gangchenpa’ and performed three songs from it.
A group of local dancers led by Himgyap Tashi danced to the track of Michael’s ‘Rinchen Rilbu’ creating a blend of Tibetan pop with imitated colourful Bollywood style dance sequence.
Phurbu T. Namgyal has so far released several albums including Penchen, With You, Love Story and Chak Sum Tsel. Most of his songs have been well received by Tibetans all over the World and are known to be equally popular among Tibetans inside Tibet despite strict regulations being put into place by Chinese Communist Authorities over the import of audio and video materials produced by exiled Tibetans.
While talking to Phayul.com after the show, he said he was extremely happy to know that his songs are also in high demand inside Tibet. He even acknowledges receiving several letters and even some gifts from fans inside Tibet. He said he regularly hears from people visiting Tibet that his songs are listened to by Tibetans in far away remote Tibetan villages and nomadic areas as well.
Born in Bylakuppe Tibetan refugee settlement in South Indian state of Karnataka, Phurbu now lives in Minnesota, USA, and continues his career on Tibetan music. His most urgent concern for the small Tibetan music and entertainment industry is the problem of piracy. He urges all Tibetans to support Tibetan artistes by making efforts to buy only original copies.
Tibetan music for him is a medium through which he can reach out to the hearts of fellow Tibetans and, strengthen unity and harmony among them. Like many Tibetans, Phurbu shares the common goal of restoring Tibet’s lost independence and dreams of returning to Tibet one day.
Phurbu T. Namgyal is currently in Kathmandu to record his latest new album, which he said would be released sometime next month.
We all know that Losar (Tibetan New Year) 2135, the Year of the Male Earth Rat, too is already here around the corner. And the new album could well be his Losar surprise for us! So, why not keep our fingers crossed to listen to another hopefully mind-blowing music album from him and wish him all the very best of luck in the meanwhile?
