Kathmandu: The International Singer-Songwriters Association (ISA) has nominated renowned Nepali lyricist Lok Raj Adhikari for the 8th edition of the “ISA International Awards,” which is held annually in Atlanta, United States. According to the organizers, Adhikari is the only Nepali nominee in the category of International Male Songwriter of the Year.
He is among 46 nominees worldwide, including Aaron Holliday (CA), Amaury Laurent Bernier (DE), Andy Smith (AU), Bob Donaldson (CA), Brian Cooper (JP), Chad Lodge (CA), Chris Andres (CA), Christopher Brown (UK), Daniel Agin (GH), Daniel de Boer (NL), Danny McMahon (UK), Darin Walters (CA), Davey Anscombe (UK), Donny van Velt (NL), Emo LeBlanc (CA), Florian Fox (CH), Gary Leonard (UK), Garvin Nyapko (GH), Grant Lyle (CA), Harry Kappen (MX), Henry Tran (NZ), Howard Delnick (CA), Ian Gosby (CA), Ivar Sigurbergsson (IS), Jake Dollery (UK), Kellen James (UK), Kelvin J. Wood (UK), Kerr Donnelly (UK), Lucas Snow (CA), Luis Barbosa (PT), Mahesh Mahadev (IN), Michael Hamilton (DK), Michele Annunziata (IT), Mick Mason (DE), Neil Faulkner (UK), Nyze B (CA), Rasmus Pedersen (DK), Ricky Cabrales (MX), Rick Rees (CA), Samuel Alexander Barbour (HK), Samuel George (ES), Terrence Hart (CA), Terry Dean (UK), Sweety Somers (CA), and Zahir Hussain (IN).
From among them, the final winner will be selected after narrowing down to the Top 20. This marks the third consecutive nomination for Adhikari. Last year, he reached the Top 20 in two categories in the final round.
This year, Adhikari has been nominated in the International Male Songwriter category for the song “Yo Desh Ko Jhanda” from the film Anjila. The song features vocals by Babina Kirati and music by Hari Lamsal, and is part of a biographical superhit film based on Nepali women’s national football captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba. In the previous year, Adhikari was nominated in two categories—Male Songwriter of the Year and Music Video of the Year—for the song “Jindagani Ke Chha Ra.” Similarly, in the sixth edition, he was nominated for the song “Yasto Bhacha Malai Ta.”
The winners of the awards, which will be held on August 22 in Atlanta, USA, will be selected through online voting. Free online voting will remain open throughout the month of April. Adhikari has written dozens of popular songs, including “Timile Parai Thane Pachhi,” “Rupai Mohani,” “Baja Bajaudai,” “Marchhu Baru Chhatpati Ma,” “Hepni Malai Hepni,” and “Rupauli Rani.”
