Madan Gopal’s cross-border melody celebrates South Asia’s shared musical tradition
KARACHI:
Under the vibrant lights of the World Culture Festival, Nepali singer Madan Gopal mesmerised the audience with a heartfelt rendition of Lambi Judai, paying tribute to Pakistan’s legendary folk singer Reshma.
Wearing a sparkling, boat-shaped traditional Nepali cap inspired by the Himalayas and a T-shirt adorned with cultural motifs, Madan stood out not only for his unique look but for his soulful performance that blended emotion, melody, and respect for South Asian musical heritage.
“It was in the hills, about 15 kilometres from Kathmandu, surrounded by forests and cool winds, that this song came to me as if from the sky,” Madan recalled. “At that moment, I decided I would perform this song in Pakistan, in Reshma Ji’s land.”
This is Madan’s second visit to Pakistan, and he says it’s the love of the people that brought him back. Before the festival, he had reimagined Lambi Judai into a medley, adding his own musical composition to honour Reshma’s legacy.
During his performance, Madan also sang a Nepali folk piece and a special Urdu-Nepali fusion song composed by Pakistani musician Imad Rehman. “When Madan told me he wanted to pay tribute to Reshma Ji, I was thrilled,” said Imad. “She is a treasure of our region, her voice carries the spirit of our soil.”
Madan described his philosophy of music: “There are two kinds of singers, the trained ones and the mitti ke singer (singers of the soil). The latter sing not from technique but from the heart.”
Accompanying him on stage was emerging Pakistani singer Mah Rukh, who recently won first place in a music competition at the Karachi Arts Council. She described the collaboration as both an honour and a challenge. “Reshma Ji is a legend — it’s impossible to match her voice, but I tried to give my best while also representing my culture,” she said.
The performance evoked memories of the 1980s for the crowd, when Indian filmmaker Subhash Ghai included Reshma’s Lambi Judai in his film Hero, propelling her to international fame.
