I remember reading something about this in sajha few weeks back. Here's another such story http://www.cybersansar.com/feature/06august/feature.php?id=sapanashree&title=Will%20Singer%20Sapana%20Shree%20never%20return?

Will Singer Sapana Shree never return?

These days Sapana Shree is not in her home town. Wondering where she is? Well, she is working as a restaurant singer in New York of United States of America. She went there on a musical tour but instead of returning planned to stay back. For how long will she stay there? Well, that's a question mark at the moment.

Sapana's stay in New York is not a new gesture considering the number of popular film and music associated people migrating to this 'money land'. We have many stories of famous Nepalese leaving Nepal to take up small odd jobs in America maybe because at the end of the day, name and popularity does not count much. It is money and more money that matters. So, like all others, Sapana is also venturing on her journey towards fulfilling her materialistic satisfaction. Will she never return? "She may return because both her children are in Nepal. But, even this is not sure." reveals an anonymous source. As for us, we can only hope that Sapana returns back soon and continue gifting the music world with her best musical creations.

I noticed an interview by Karishma Manandhar on NTV about a year ago. She was pounded with the questions of why she left to US and if materialistic satisfaction was her top priority rather than her fame and popularity? She said, apart from being an actress, she is also a normal Nepalese citizen, has her own life and that she wants to see how it is working in a low paying job, which, in my opinion, she has all the right to do. Therefore, I think Sapana can choose her life and that I cannot possibly argue what she has done is wrong. Being a restaurant singer is not bad at all. She will not be much less popular doing this. I am disappointed because I think in Nepal she can enrich our music with her lovely voice.

so what...
How many of us are outside of Nepal who promised to go back to Nepal?

At least she is here doing her thing.

>>>>>We have many stories of famous Nepalese leaving Nepal to take up small odd jobs <<<<<


I would think that waiting tables in New York or Boston is fairly MAINSTREAM activity
for most Nepalis who want to work abroad and earn some clean, cold cash with a minimum of hassle. Doing so is nothing to laugh at or worried about.

Here is my reason for saying that:

Based on my observations in Nepal, I find singing professionally IS what that's a really odd job. I can't think of a reason why anyone in Nepal would really want to make a living as a professional singer without FIRST having a decent-paying alternative career in place on the side.

In the music industry in Nepal,

1. The pay is abysmally low.

2. A few financially savvy musicians make money -- but the 99 per cent is left trailing behind -- way behind, financially.

3. The struggle is brutal: there are many people willing to pay money to get their own albums out.

4. Because of poor contract wordings, Nepali record companies squeeze you out of the profit, if any, streams, and there is not much you can do about it.

5. You have to perform for free in public so many times, and the financial returns are low.

6 Yes, everyone knows your name (Nepal, after all, is terribly small), but nobody asks what you had for lunch (or even if you had had lunch) or whether you have the right dress to go to this or that concert or whether you have a mode of transport to reach such and such venue . . . to maintain an "image of success in Nepal", some musicians end up begging, borrowing and even stealing stuff. That's the reality -- no matter how some want to deny it.

Against this backdrop, how REFRESHING it is to learn that Sapana appears to have said, "Enough is enough", and decided to quite professional singing in Nepal for a while to earn some quiet money by working hard in whatever jobs in the US.

Way to go!

Fortunately, the Nepali music industry is getting vibrant enough to bring forth new talents who will continue to entertain the rest of us.

So, it's a win for Sapana (she gets to earn money in ways she could NEVER in Nepal) ; and her (temporary) departure is a win for Nepali music for that opens up spaces for newer talents in Nepal.

Here's . . . wishing her well.

oohi
ashu

Haray, mero English typing . . .
kasto khattam bha.yay.cha!

Please read:

odd job as an odd job
decided to quit professional singing INSTEAD of decided to quite professional singing

1. there is no thing to be shunned of her decision, as the demand for her melodious voice is very high by Nepali community in the mega city like New York ....

2. i think singers are also borderless like doctors. should she wish, she may record new songs wherever she be and continue to entertain Nepali anywhere....

Wish her best!

If Sapana Shree is staying in US within the legal proximity provided by her visa then it is fine. Afterall it is her life and she has the right to live it in any way as long as she is not hurting others.
But if she is here illegally then, it is not good. If every high profile citizen from Nepal starts to live illegally in US and other Western Countries, then his/her deed makes it tougher for the honest ones who wants to get visa and then return to Nepal. With so much fame comes responsibility also but the sad thing is no one seems to honor it.

What is the use of fame, if there is no money associated with it?

Yow dem Chiluns!

Blessed dem be you all,

What dem big deal about this? You dem peopal speak nonsense.

It dem better to be dem famous with mony here in USA than be dem famous without mony in Nepal.

I is almost achievement that status now.

Now many many dem Indian Resturanter peopal knows I .

Someday you is dem read in history about I . Him birader who dem is topest tandoori operator.

One dem birader is already very famous in dem convenience Store. Him is work in so many Seven Eleven and fast marts that him is almost finish all dem places in NY.
Now him is saying that him is thinking of Venture Upstate.

Jai Nepalian Peopal !
Jai him Nice King !
Jai him nice Pry Minister !

.
.

।
नेपालीहरुको अरुको निन्दा गर्ने बाहेक कामै छैन,

लाखौं चाइनिजहरु छन यहां, लाखौं भारतिहरु छन यहां,

बल्ल बल्ल आएको एक् नेपाली बहिनी पनि कसैलाइ सहने भएन,

थुक्क,, यी जिउंदा लाजमर्दा असह्यै भएका बिकसित देशमा बांचेका
अबिकसित मस्तिष्कहरु,,,,,

"What is the use of fame, if there is no money associated with it?"

Oh really?

Go tell that to all the socail workers.
I wonder what Mother Teresa would have thought about it.

Hurray, I don't think mother teresa gives a damn about fame

Swatanta Nari, I don't think anyone is bad mouthing this singer. Yes, you are right there are tons of chinese and tons of Indians in USA. But can you imagine someone like Udit Narayan Jha, Salman Khan coming to US for a cultural program and staying here illegally?
If the wellknown people from Nepal start to stay here illegally, the US counslers will most probably come to hear about it. Consequently they will make it harder for other honest and honorable artists and common nepalese to get visa.

We always complanin about how things are hard for Nepalese and in Nepal, but we forget to see that we shoot yourselves on our own foot everytime. It is almost like grabbing the opportunity and closing the door behind for others.

Yes, people have personal reasons for choices they make. But at the same time could we also say that those people are dishonest, in fact criminals to break the law no matter what the reasons are? I am not implying that the singer is here illegally and hence has broken the law since I do not know. My statement only applies for those who fit the profile.

I think it is a delicate balance between responsibility and freedom.
As a singer or even an actors/actress they represent our country because we have given them that status. On the other hand they also have their personal right to do whatever they want. I think that if they want to denounce their celebrity status they are ever more free to do so and I think they should not expect the general public to look at them in the same manner even after they have taken such a drastic step.
They must always remember that with great power comes great responsibility.

Surprisingly for the first time I have to agree with you. So you understand what I am trying to say.

man these fuggers need to get a life. SO WHAT IF THEY WANT TO STAY HERE, THERE OR EVEN ON THE FUGGING MOON. IT IS NONE OF YOUR FUGGIN BUSINESS.

DO YOU HEAR ME ASKING ALL YO FUGGIN SORRY ASSES WHY YOU HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO HELP THE MOTHERLAND ? NOPE DO YOU HEAR THIS SAPANA GAL ASKING YOU WHY YOU HAVE NOT GONE BACK ? NOPE

THEN SHUT THE FU*K UP !!

This is a no brainer. It's her individual decision. So whether you like it or not, you should respect it. She's not in your payscale. She has a right to do whatever she wants. Take it easy on yourselves people.

.
Bathroomcoffee,

You sound great today. Good points....

Did you you change your Coffee Brand today??..

That is great...
.

See the point is as soon as you become a celebrity, a part of your personal life is publicized. That is a trade off that comes along with becoming popular. People respect you and put you higher up in a pedestal. But my point is that once you as taken such a drastic step such as this, you shouldn't expect people to put you in the same level. You shouldn't still expect people to respect you and think that you can still cling on to the celebrity status. The trade off goes both the ways.

Bathroom Coffee, I guess you have to reduce the level of Caffine in your coffee...