Rai: Music for life

Darjeeling, March 20: The Quaiser family, struggling to save their six-month-old child, has pinned all hopes on Sabin Rai, fondly called the Bryan Adams of the Nepali music industry.

Rai is expected to rock music lovers of the hill town at a charity concert in April to help the family raise money for the child?s treatment. The child ? the family has not even had the time to name her yet ? is suffering from a rare spinal complication, which needs surgery.

?The doctors have asked us to get her operated on as soon as possible. The total cost is expected to be around Rs 3 lakh,? said Naushad Quaiser, the child?s father who is an insurance agent.

The idea of the concert came from the residents of the Lhasha Villa area. ?We have decided to hold concerts of Rai at Gymkhana Hall on April 15 and 16. We hope that his music saves a life at the end of the day,? said Srijana Tamang, a member of Lhasha Villa Voluntary Youth Organisation, which is putting up the show.

The choice to rope in Rai was unanimous. The 32-year old singer from Dharan in Nepal is among the best known Nepali pop singers and his distinct husky voice ?resembling that of Bryan Adams ? has caught the imagination of the young generation. ?We are keeping our fingers crossed. We hope we can collect enough money,? said Tamang.

At the concert, Rai is expected to beat out hit numbers like Guraso ko phed ma and Sundhar tha ko udhar from his debut album Sataha. The songs have been chart busters in the Nepali music industry.