"Melancholy" (Nepali: मिलानकोली) is an environmentally-themed song sung by 365 Nepali artists. This song was intended to promote an environmental message by breaking the Guinness World Records for "Most Vocal Solos in a Song Recording", which it successfully did. It was written, music composed and directed by environmentalist Nipesh Dhaka. The song was recorded as a single on 19 May 2016. The recording sessions were inaugurated by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli at 8 am and continued until 6 pm. The song was released on 2 September 2017 by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Army Officer's Club, Kathmandu.
Background and concept Nipesh Dhaka was involved in a variety of environmental research, as well as producing documentaries, including Himalaya Calls (2015), Melancholy (2017), and Rodhan(2017). He visited almost districts of Nepal, and studied the environmental changes in different geological and ecological regions, and how they affected various communities. He also recorded a song by 206 Nepali artists in different studios of Nepal and Mumbai, including Udit Narayan Jha, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, Vijaya Lama, Dr. Bhola Rijal, Sambhujeet Baskota and Rajesh Payal Rai. At that time he devised the concept for "Melancholy", with 365 artists collaborating on a single day.
The slogan of the song was "Raise Voice, Save Earth". The event was conducted to break the Guinness World Records of "Most Vocal Solos in a Song Recording" and use this to promote awareness of environmental conservation issues. The song was recorded at Radio Nepal by Prakash Kharel. On 1 February 2018, the song was certified by Guinness World Records.
Documentary
The documentary Melancholy is based on environmental research studies of all geographical regions of Nepal from 2013 to 2018. The documentary explores how human beings are affecting natural resources. It also addresses global environmental problems, such as declining biodiversity, global warming, and climate change, by examining sustainable development from Nepal's point of view. The 80 minute documentary discusses the nature of the ecosystem, and considers the social impacts of environmental change. It has raised funds for 83 Chepang children of Jaldevi Primary School, Rorang Village, Dhading District. It has also been screened at international conferences and film festivals.Kaski, Aawaj. National Daily News, June 10, 2018.
Guinness World Record achievement
All 365 singers along with campaign coordinators, organizers, technicians, and volunteers were awarded Guinness World Records certificates for "Most Vocal Solos in a Song Recording", in collaboration with Nepal's Sustainable Environmental and Ecosystem Management (SEEM). This was done at a ceremony on 11 October 2018 at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, in the presence Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, veteran scholar Satya Mohan Joshi, and senior singer Prem Dhoj Pradhan.
Artists The soloists in order of group appearance were:Melancholy CD Audio & Booklet (24 pages), released on 2 September 2017. Madhav Prasad Ghimire (national poet of Nepal)
Group A: Natural resources Nipesh DHAKA Lochan Bhattarai Meera Rana Satya Raj Acharya Sworup Raj Acharya Sangeeta Rana Pradhan Prem Pariyar Manoj Raj Siwakoti Menuka Poudel Chandi Prasad Kafle Anand Karki Hemant Sharma Bhupendra Rayamaji
Group B: Agriculture Deepak Jangam Kiran Kandel Parbisha Adhikari Munna Gurung Sunita Karki Sahima Shrestha Satya Kala Rai Samjhana Oli Jhuma Limbu Jonisha Poudel Bishwa Nepali Sarita Shahi Rejina Rimal Ajaya Adhikari Sushil Bhabin Dhungana Anuska Pathak
Group C: Soil and life Pradep Basel CD Vijaya Adhikari Narayan Babu Koirala Bhugol Dahal Manisha Rai Menuka Rai Shantim Koirala Keshab Adhikari Krishna Bashyal Juna Prasai Bhimsen Subedi Kanchan Thalang Parbin Thung Rai Ganga Dhar Parajuli Yogendra Upadhayaya
Group D: Mine and industries Mahesh Khadka Mechu Dhimal Sudam Thapa Sindhu Malla B.B. Anuragi Prashamsa Shrestha Prashna Sakya Aarati Thapa Manisha Pokharel Hari Lamsal Mahendra Dahal Bidhan Shrestha Swechhya Thakuri Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal Rajan Raj Shiwakoti
Group E: Watershed area Anil Poudel Anu Dhakal Sudesh Subedi Bidhata Singh Bhattarai Milan Amatya Rai Nabin Bimala Bhusal Rabindra Rai Itu Jojiju Rambhakta Jojiju Shiva Chaudhary Rukman Limbu Suresh Lama Jaljala Pariyar Deepak Limbu Bishhnu Chemjong
Group F: Farmer Om Bikram Bista Sashi Rawal Shyam Maharjan Radha Rai Suren Chand Aakanshya Basyal Pushpan Pradhan Anil Shahi Shankar Thapa Shreya Sotang Sunil Singh Thakuri Bishal Atreya Kankaist Rai Ciney Gurung Dharmendra Sewan
Group G: Renewable energy Bharat Sitaula Sitaram Pokharel Kabita Vishwakarma Saru Gautam Durga Pariyar Santosh Shrestha Narayan Oli Rita K. C. Rajeev Lohani Apsara Ghimire Kobid Bajracharya Tika Devi Parsain Prahlad Timilsina Smita Ghimire
Group H: Diet and quality Rekha Shah Susan Samsohang Hari Gurung Parjeet Lama Pabitra Ghimire Puja Pariyar Bijesh Poudel Uttam Khadka Mausami Gurung Binod Koirala Suresh Manandhar Aashish Diyali Suman Gurung
Group I: Health Sachin Singh Jeevan Kalapremi Sanjaya Tumrok Kamal Chhetri Suraj Thapa Hari Shankar Chaudhary Sunaj Lamsal Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Jha Ajar Jangam Puja Gurung Sunil Giri Sweta Upreti
Group J: Ecosystems Shishir Yogi Rewat Rai Urmila Kutu Ram Chandra Kafle Junu Rijal Kafle Suman Sargam Sunita Pradhan Limbu Kamala Sapkota Binod Baniya Tara Laxam Limbu Suman Nepali Kushal Thalang Prem Raj Poudel Basanta Sapkota Ritu Kandel
Group K: Forest ecology Chetan Sapkota Risu Nepali Laxmi DeviShrestha Kamala Shrestha Raj Kumari Thapa Kishor Kumar Sharma Sedai Prashuram Rijal Sanu Tamang Milan Moktan Ramesh Raj Bhattarai Nisha Deshar Pramod Chandra Prasain Laxmi Risal Sanjeev Aale Tulasi Parajuli Roj Moktan
Group L: Human rights Indira Joshi Keshav Acharya Prekshya Lamsal Jams Pradhan Deepa Lama Ramesh Pathak Bimal Parajuli Rajesh Kumar Shrestha Samyog Yogi Narayan Acharya Yubraj Chaulagain Phul Kumar Bamjan Parvati Karki
Group M: Peace Hira Maya Waiba Devi Rokka Deep Tuladhar Fulmaya Darji Ramesh Sangraula Sunny Maharjan Mamata Rai D. R. Atu Romi Basnet
Group N: Education Komal Oli Rozan Adhikari Babul Giri Tilak Bam Malla Deepak Sharma Jhuma Niraula Dej Raj Poudyal Smriti Shahi Sworupa Rasaily Rajendra Pokhrel Thaneshwor Gautam Biju Bajra Tika Bhandari Desi Pritam Sherpa Madan Gopal Ashok Poudyal
Group O: National Property Bishnu Khatri Khadga Garbuja Kamali Kanta Bhetuwal Sharmila Gurung Dharma Gandari Krishna Pariyar Bharat Nepali Jeevan Pariyar Bhanu Bhakta Oli Purna Kala B.C. Ramji Khand Nand Krishna Joshi Bidhya Timilsina Bhumika Shah Ganesh Bhandari
Group P: Rural livelihood Pashupati Sharma Sagar Birahi Bima Kumari Dura Jamuna Rana Tika Pun Sugam Thapa Magar Himal Ghale Manmohan Thapaliya Samjhana Lamichhane Magar Dev Raj Ale Magar Parbati G.C. Madhusudan Thapa Khuman Adhikari Sunita Dulal Radhika Hamal
Group Q: Youth Nabin Khadka Raju Dhakal Smita Dahal Sarita Thapa Narayan Rayamajhi Devi Gharti Magar Asha Thapa Laxmi Neupane Rosani Rasaili Puja Sunuwar
Group R: Natural disaster Babu Bogati Amrit Bhatta Babita Manadhar Shristi Sunar Bindu Pariyar Partap Lama Priya Upreti Benuka Rai Rajay Gurung Krishna Reule Sushma B.K. Jhalak Sangraula Raju Singh Kala Rai Yogeshwar Amatya Aakriti Dangal
Group S: Human settlement Debash Rai Shanti Ram Rai Saru Ban Paras Mukarung Reshma Sunwar Uttam Thapa Amrit Chhetri Simant Santosh Banika Pradhan Sashi Bikram Thapa Shyam Kumar Bishwokarma Bhisan Mukarung Rhythm Kandel Sarada Adhikari Mingma Sherpa Rakesh Oli
Group T: Society Nirnaya Shrestha Puskal Sharma Ruchi Shrestha Ranjan Adhikari Rajesh Payal Rai Jamuna Sanam Indra R.P. Sanjana Shrestha Binod Rai Araj Keshav Shambu Baniya Arjun Kaushal
Group U: Human resource Pramod Kharel Arpana Shrestha Kishor Lopchan Pushpa Bohora Shiva Sangit Kamal Kiran Durga Prasad Khanal Narahari Premi Bijaya Biswas Rai Pramod Nirwan Deepak Baraili Malika Karki Prakriti Thalang Limbu Purusottam Poudel Krishna B.K.
Group V: Nationalism Gayatri Tripathi Prajwal Karki Bhim Limbu Aagantuk Kharel Paras Prakash Nepal Suresh Adhikari Udesh Shrestha Om Prakash Rai Sachin Rai Subash Chamling Nimish Kattel Parkash Saput Suraj Shahi Thakuri Rupak Shrestha Pratap Das Binay Karki Chhetri
Group W: Ecological cycle Nispal Adhikari Prisha Shrestha
Group X: Eco-tourism Prabhu Raj Dhakal Sunil Maskey Bimala Rai Saru Rai Ram Sitaula Govinda Madhur Acharya Gyanu Rana Bihani Bishowkarma Balram Raj Banshi Bam Bahadur Karki Vijaya Lama Ananda Rai Dhanu Gyangmi Magar Jasoda Limbu Ankit Babu Adhikari Prakash Gurung
Group Y: Climate change Himal Sagar Yam Baral Narayan Subedi Madan Century Shiva Ale Dr. Ishan Gautam Hemanta Kanchha Rasaily Dr.Bhola Rijal Hari Devi Koirala Sambhujeet Baskota Gurudev Kamat Krishna Bhakta Rai
Group Z: The Earth Devika Bandana Durga Dahal Prakash Katuwal Shiva Shah Jaya Devkota Devendra Babu B.K. Aashik Prajapati Miraj Thapa Kumar Rana Shuku Ram B.K. Rakesh Soni Nirmala K.C. Bhuwan Prakash Badu Desh Bhakta Kunwar Deepak Kumar Shahi Raju Shah Biru Lama Bibee Limbu Ratna Shrestha Nil Mani Bhandari Kiran Pudasaini Ramesh Century
References
External links YouTube videos: "Melancholy" song official trailer 365 participating Nepali artists and groups of "Melancholy" President Bidya Devi Bhandari released "Melancholy" at Army Officer's Club, Kathamndu, 2 September 2017 What is "Melancholy" Song and its objectives?