People Behind the Drama

Khagendra Lamichhane, Senior Script Writer/ Drama Director

khagendra@bbcwst.org.np

Khagendra Lamichhane is one of Nepal’s leading young playwrights and actors. He comes from a farming background. His most recent work includes Paaniphoto – a drama about the relatives of ‘the disappeared’ – which was premiered in Kathmandu last month. His play Hajurba ko Katha (The Grandfather’s Tale) was premiered on 21st November last year at the Gurukul Theatre’s International Theatre Festival. He took his play Peeda Geet in Thailand at the Pathumthani International Theatre Festival this year.As well as writing, Khagendra has a passion for collecting sound effects.

Shirish Thapa, Senior Sound Technician

shirish@bbcwst.org.np

Shirish is involved in music compositions as well as a good sound technician. His duties with the drama team include recording, mixing and doing some acting too! Besides his work on drama he is senior sound technician for the BBC Media Action Trust’s other programme in Nepal, including a major discussion programme with audiences, Sajha Sawal. Before working at the BBC he worked as production in-charge of Synergy FM, Bharatpur, Chitwan. His interest for music creation lead him to create Radio jingles like Station ids, Commercial jingles and Songs too. For his work in Music Field he’s been appreciated by other Local FMs in Chitwan as well. As per his deep interest in music he has recently released his Solo Debut album C’RIS.-A pop-rock album.

Bhabasagar Ghimire, Senior Script Writer, Drama Director

bhabasagar@bbcwst.org.np

Bhabasagar is one of the emerging script writers in Nepal. He is from farming background. Before joining BBC Media Action he worked as a journalist in Nagarik Daily for more than a Year. He has also worked in Machhapuchhre FM as a Program Producer for more than 4 years in his home town Pokhara. He worked in Antenna Foundation Nepal as a drama Script writer for one and half year and in Equal Access Nepal as a Script-writer and Director for 6 months. Room to Read has recently published a story Book “Hamro Ghar Ek Sangrhahalaya”, written by Bhabasagar. He has passion on photography and social work. He loves to write creative stories.

Anbika Giri, Script Writer, Drama Director

anbika@bbcwst.org.np

Anbika Giri is a story writer and journalist. Her collection of short story ‘Communist’, which made a record sales, established her as a prominent story writer of younger generation. Anbika, who started her journalism career as a radio jockey, later moved to print media and wrote for Samaya Weekly and Annapurna Post Daily.

Rabindra Singh Baniya, Script Writer, Drama Director

rabindra@bbcwst.org.np

Rabindra is one of the emerging theater actors in Nepal. Before joining BBC Media Action Trust he was associated with Gurukul, the prominent theater group in Nepal. He has travelled to verious parts of world to show his drama.

Kamal Kumar, Senior Magazine Producer

kamal@bbcwst.org.np

Kamal Kumar, 26, started his career as a radio journalist in 2003. He worked as Reporter/Producer in a satellite radio network Communication Corner. He also worked in Kantipur Television from 2005 to 2008 as sub editor and producer. He left Kantipur TV in 2008 and joined online team of Nagarik daily as Senior Correspondent. He joined BBC WST as Web Producer and is now currently working as senior magazine producer.

Rojita Adhikari, Magazine Producer

rojita@bbcwst.org.np

Rojita Adhikari produces and present Sarangiko Bhalakusari for the BBC Media Action Trust. She started her radio career in 2006 with Nepal FM as a news reporter. After that she joined Antenna Foundation Nepal. There she worked as a reporter and producer. Initially, she worked with the mobile DOKO Radio Team, visiting many remote districts. She also produced a radio magazine about children, called SUNAUBOLAU supporting children in peace building.

Bhanu Bokhim, Magazine Producer

bhanu@bbcwst.org.np

Bhanu joined the BBC Media Action Trust in April 2010 as a presenter and producer of Sarangiko Bhalakusari, the magazine programme which accompanies the drama, Katha Mitho Sarangiko. He comes from Taplejung, in the eastern part of Nepal and started his career with Antenna Foundation Nepal (AFN) as a scriptwriter on the radio soap opera 'Naya Bato Naya Paila' in 2006, and went on to direct it. Other programmes he has worked on include: Karmayogi ko Katha (a docudrama based on a health worker’s life story set in a village) and the bi-media programme, Mero Jindaagi Mero Bishwash (My Life, My Belief). He also worked for British Gurkha Media Network P(ltd) as a programme producer and presenter. He loves traveling and writing. His articles and short stories have been published in a variety of literary magazines and news papers. His short story Andhyaroko Sapana (Dreaming in the Dark) won second prize in the Manmohan Memorial Foundation’s national short story competition.

Bibhor Baral, Web Producer

bibhor@bbcwst.org.np

Bibhor Baral, who started his career as an online journalist in 2004, is the founder general secretary of Online Media Assiciation Nepal. He is a keen poet and short story writer. Bibhor, the author of ghazal collection 'Uddai Gaye Sapanaharu', has edited ezines like Tanneri and OnlineSahitya. He studied master's in Engineering and Management of Information Systems at DSV, the joint ICT department of KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University. He has also worked as a lecturer at private colleges in Kathmandu. Currently Bibhor is working for BBC Media Action as a Web Producer.

Prakash Gandharva, Artist

prakash@bbcwst.org.np

24 year old Prakash Gandharba earned his living as a traveling musician before he joined the BBC in 2007. He was forced to leave school aged 12 to support his grandmother with his music playing.

He is the drama’s principal narrator, composes all the songs for Katha Mitho Sarangiko and acts in the drama. Since working for the BBC he has appeared on a number of radio stations across the country being interviewed and playing his sarangi. These  include Barahi FM, City FM, Karnali FM, Krishna Sar FM, and Radio Pyuthan.

He performed at the  Dharan cultural festival in 2009 and in Suresh Chand’s play ‘Youth’ at the Golden Gate International College and composed music for Khagendra Lamichhane’s one man show Hajurba ko Katha at the Gurukul Theatre. He has also performed at a number of schools, including the Brickmakers’ Children’s school outside Kathmandu. He performed at the Nachghar as part of a musical ensemble in a production of Khatiwada's Charandas Chor, and at the CA assembly for the Committee on Federalism. 

He has studied at the Nepal Music Centre and completed a two month workshop at Anup Baral’s Actor’s Studio.

Prakash takes many of the publicity photographs for Katha Mitho Sarangiko and is a  keen Facebook user.

Shristi Rajbhandari, Broadcast Assistant

shristi@bbcwst.org.np

Shristi Rajbhandari, 24, is a Masters graduate in International Journalism from the UK. During her stay in the UK for five years she has gained work experience with the BBC, Reuters and Sky News. She has also worked with BBC Fast track as a local correspondent/fixer when they arrived in Nepal in January 2010. In Nepal, her first media job was as a Presenter/ Producer for News24 in a weekly English travel programme “On the Move.” She is also very keen in photography and has contributed as a freelance photographer for the Kathmandu Post and Kantipur Publications. At present she is working as a Broadcast Assistant for BBC Media Action.