Living Life to the fullest

Prashna Shakya starts a new chapter of her life with a new album

by PRAVAT J GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 161 (May 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

ANUP PRAKASH

She's living her life to the fullest. She doesn't regret the decision she's made in the past. She's happily married to Araaj Keshav and singing the way she wants to. Shy but lively, Prashna Shakya, originally from Dharan, came to Kathmandu for her higher studies and it was then that she met Araaj for the first time. They were good friends at first but soon their friendship turned into love.

"We never saw each other as lovers. We never dated but we're kind of dating now," says Prashna adding, "We would only see each other when we were together working in studios. But later when I used to talk to guys, he used to get jealous. And, so did I when he got marriage proposals from other girls." She was surprised herself that this was happening and one day, Araaj came with his parents to Prashna's place and they got married.

However, that wasn't the climax of their love story. Unaware of the political happenings, Araaj and his wedding procession set off from Mahendranagar to Dharan but within an hour of them being on the road, a curfew was announced. The curfew stranded everyone and the strike in the Tarai region went on for 14 days. "It took like 124 hours to get Prashna to my house," says Araaj recalling the happiest day of his life. Working in a production house, Silver Moon, Araaj is also known as the Nepali Shaggy for his style of raping and singing, a name he acknowledges with a grin.

But married life isn't the only novelty in Prashna's life. Her new album Udayan, which she's promoting at the moment, took almost 5 years to complete. In the album, Prashna has tried to do something completely new. "I love singing sentimental songs and my first hit was a slow one. But in this album, you can hear some fast tracks," reveals Prashna adding, "I want to experiment new things with my music. It's been alot of fun." Her struggle to be a singer has paid off but she says that she's still struggling and that it's hard to survive with doing just music. Besides singing, Prashna also has interest in radio presenting and being a beautician. "I did work as an RJ in Maitri FM but due to my health condition and the petrol fuel shortage, I couldn't continue. I am yet to try my hands as a beautician," says Prashna.

Since coming to Kathmandu for her studies, Prashna Shakya has come a long way and she's happy. 10 years down the line, she says if she's still in Nepal she would still be releasing albums and singing. Her one and a half month marriage is going smooth and she's enjoying her married life which she terms as challenging and the responsibility is serious. Hunting places where there is electricity during load shedding hours around the Valley, Prashna's life has had its share of ups and downs but she is enjoying every minute of it!