The biggest musical extravaganza of the country delivered—and how—in its eighth edition.

Radio Kantipur’s National Music Awards continues to celebrate the country’s music scene. What began as an initiative to distribute royalties to musicians has evolved into a comprehensive award event. This year, the event went a step further—it was a ticketed concert, too, as some of the country’s most prominent singers serenaded the 3,000-capacity Godavari Sunrise Convention Centre.

Fans who flocked to the venue are unlikely to forget the event soon, with the likes of Durgesh Thapa (in all his brash glory) and Kuma Sagar (his signature humility only accentuated by his soulful numbers) headlining the night.

The event began on a sombre note as host Shrijal Rupakheti delivered heartfelt remarks on the evolution of Nepali music. Today, Nepali music transcends borders, he said, with artists dabbling in a smorgasbord of musical styles.

While hip-hop and R&B have long been popular among Nepalis, it was added to the award’s category only this year, with Brijesh Shrestha taking home the award for his hit ‘Mutu Mai Basecha.’

Singer-songwriter Swoopna Suman was the first performer of the afternoon. He set the tone for what was to come with his soulful numbers like ‘Jhari Ko Raat Ma’ and his recent release ‘Radha’. Before performing ‘Radha,’ he shared a backstory about the song: “Even though the title is ‘Radha,’ you will not find the word Radha in the lyrics. It is named after my grandmother.”

The awards honoured a wide range of talents. RC Rimal was recognised as the Best Debut Singer. In the folk category, Shanti Shree Pariyar won Best Female Singer for ‘Timi Ra Ma Jam Maya,’ while Prakash Dutraj took home Best Male Singer for ‘Karima.’ Bhusan Kharel earned Best Lyricist for ‘Janchhu Bhani.’

In the Adhunik Music segment, Tika Prasain bagged Best Female Singer for ‘Eh Jindagi,’ and Shiva Pariyar was named Best Male Singer for ‘Chupchap,’ which also won Sanjeev Baraili the Best Music Director award.

Playback singers were celebrated too, with SD Yogi winning Best Playback Singer (Male) for ‘Rukum Maikot,’ and Samikshya Adhikari honoured as Best Playback Singer (Female) for ‘Bujhina Maile.’

Kuma Sagar & The Khwopa Band were awarded Best Band for ‘A Mai Re.’ In the pop scene, Trishala Gurung claimed Best Female Pop Singer for ‘Beach Vibes,’ while Sushant KC won Best Male Pop Singer for his hit ‘Bardali.’ The same song also won Sushant KC and Indrakala Rai the People’s Choice Award.

Meanwhile, legendary music composer, singer, and lyricist Sambhujeet Baskota was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Born in 1957 in Panipokhari, Kathmandu, Baskota has composed music for over 355 Nepali films and more than 2,000 modern, folk, and devotional songs.

Kailash Sirohiya, chairman of Kantipur Media Group, Director Swastika Sirohiya, and Managing Director Sambhav Sirohiya honoured Baskota with the award.

“This award belongs not just to me but everyone who has supported me and with whom I have worked,” Baskota said. “This honour has inspired me even more to continue contributing to the Nepali music industry.”

In the previous edition, this prestigious award was given to musician, singer, and composer Om Bikram Bista.

The event also featured energetic performances by Eleena Chauhan, Asmita Adhikari, and Wangden Sherpa, along with comic segments by Sundar Khanal and Sujita Shrestha.

For the event’s penultimate performance, singers Asmita Adhikari and Suresh Lama collaborated to offer a special tribute to Baskota, while Kuma Sagar & The Khwopa performed some of their best hits to mark a memorable end to a night dedicated to artists who keep Nepali music alive and kicking.