Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 23:00 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 17:23 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Darjeeling/Mumbai-based designer and art director Tejistha Pradhan
is all set to make his mark on the Nepali indie music scene with his latest
project, the music video of ‘Eh Saathi’, the first single from celebrated
singer-songwriter Bipul Chettri’s upcoming album ‘Pravah’.
The
music video will premiere on YouTube on August 15, followed by a release on all
streaming platforms on August 22. The music video is directed by Dishant
Pradhan, who is a NID Ahmedabad graduate.
Designer-turned-art
director, Tejistha co-founded Lasta Design and production house Lasta Studio,
along with his brother Vashistha Pradhan during the Covid pandemic. The studio
operates from Gangtok, Darjeeling, and Mumbai, working across interior design,
industrial design, packaging, and video production. They have a core team of
five members.
Tejistha
grew up mostly in Darjeeling, though his mother’s side is from Rangpo, Sikkim,
and much of his maternal family is in Gangtok. He studied Civil Engineering at
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and later moved to Milan, Italy, to
study Product Design. That design background naturally evolved into art
direction work.
His
brother, Vashistha did a professional film course in Mumbai, and was selected
for the ASC Mentorship Program (American Society of Cinematographers) under
Hollywood cinematographer Robert Primes.
“I
never studied art direction formally, but as a designer, you already develop
skills in creating moods, themes, and visual styles, interior design deals with
years-long themes, while art direction focuses on the look and mood of a
specific frame or scene. I excelled with time and projects,” said Tejistha to
SIKKIM EXPRESS.
For ‘Eh
Saathi’, Tejistha took on the dual role of art director and production manager,
crafting an authentic visual narrative rooted in the region’s culture. “The
song is about friendship and growing up together, then going separate ways as
life takes us elsewhere. We wanted to avoid a Bollywood-style imitation and
instead showcase genuine food, lifestyle, and surroundings from our region,” he
said.
The
music video was filmed across Mumbai, Gayabari Tea Estate in Darjeeling, and
Siliguri.
Pradhan
highlighted the challenges of unpredictable weather and tight deadlines, with
one day in Mumbai and four shooting days for other locations. “We also had
strong support from locals in each location. Sometimes the rain and fog worked
against us, but sometimes nature added the perfect atmosphere,” he shared.
While
this is the first collaboration between Lasta Studio and Bipul Chettri, his
brother Vashistha has previously worked with Bipul Chettri on the video for
‘Barah Mahina’.
“Bipul
Da gave us complete creative freedom on this project. We brought together a
team of professional actors and crew members, each excelling in their own
department. We have kept the local soul, while maintaining modern
craftsmanship,” added Pradhan.
Tejistha’s
past projects include a Cadbury CSR campaign and a mental health awareness
video during Covid.
“All
of us are super excited for the music video release. The whole team worked
hard, and nature itself seemed to support us throughout. We’re all fans of
Bipul Chettri, so collaborating was an honor. We aimed for craftsmanship that’s
current and relevant, but with a soul rooted in our own culture,” concluded
Tejistha Pradhan.
BOX
Bipul Chettri
Bipul
is a singer/songwriter from Kalimpong, Darjeeling who writes and sings in the
Nepali language. Widely recognized for his soulful blend of Nepali folk
traditions with contemporary indie sounds, his music evokes a deep sense of
nostalgia, rooted in the landscapes, memories, and rhythms of the hills where
he was born and raised.
A
LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College, London) Diploma holder in western
classical guitar, his music's popularity is evident on online social platforms
and has received tremendous airplays across the world.
Bipul
continues to preserve and reinterpret the sounds of the hills - crafting a
musical language that speaks both to memory and modernity, silence and song.
While
still a music teacher at a school in New Delhi, he continues to record, release
his music and travel to perform with his band across the world.
Dishant Pradhan
Dishant
Pradhan is a filmmaker and currently a Faculty of Design at Flame University,
Pune. His debut film, the experimental short ‘Dante Katha’, explores folk
stories from the Himalayan region with the aim of preserving and retelling them
for contemporary audiences. ‘Dante Katha’ has been screened at prestigious
platforms such as the Dharamshala International Film Festival, London Himalayan
Film Festival, and Kathmandu Triennale, among others. Over the years, Dishant
has directed more than 15 music videos, with a focus on documenting and
amplifying stories and voices from the hills.
The Album
Pravah,
meaning flow, fluency, or an unbroken sequence in the Nepali language,
encapsulates the essence of continuity, fluidity, and harmonious progression.
Pravah is both a metaphor and a manifestation of dynamic, uninterrupted
movement - be it in thought, action, creativity, or nature.
In an
age marked by distraction, disconnection, and disruption, Pravah offers an
alternative rhythm - a return to natural, intentional flow. It invites us to
design and live in ways that are aligned, adaptive, and alive. Hence, the eight
songs represented in this album represent a conscious design of experiences and
systems that move with purpose and poise - never abrupt, never stagnant.
The (Waterfall) Release
To
maximize exposure, increase engagement, and grow an audience with each release
to create a cumulative effect, the makers decided to do a waterfall release of the
songs from this album. 'Eh Saathi' will be the first to be released with a
music video (YouTube) on the 15th of August '25 and 22nd Aug '25 on all other
online platforms. Similarly, the rest of the songs will be released after a gap
of a few weeks between them.
Eh Saathi
'Eh
Saathi' is the first release from the forthcoming album, 'Pravah'. As the title
suggests, it's an ode to childhood friendships that transcends time. Almost
written like a conversation piece put to music, the song embodies the notion of
friendship that is something to nurture and celebrate, that you never take them
for granted and its enduring nature of emphasizing loyalty, love, and the
shared journey of life.
The Musicians, Studio & Video
Crew
Music: Bipul Chettri (Vocals, Guitars,
Backing Vocals), Pranai Gurung (Guitars), Rahul Rai (Bass), Rythem Bansal (Keys/Organ),
Shantanu Sudarshan (Drums/Percussions)
Backing Vocals: Sumimardor Diengdoh, Bhushan
Amatya, Prashansa Pandey Amatya
Written
and arranged by Bipul Chettri
Recorded
at Baa Baa Black Sheep Studios, Plug ‘N’ Play Studios & Project Studio.
Recording Engineers: Jonty Indra, Anindo Bose, Binaya
Man Amatya
Mixed & Mastered: Binaya Man Amatya
Album Cover Design: Manohar Rai
Album Cover Photography: Praveen Chettri
Producer: Bipul Chettri
Executive Producer: Sonam Tashi
Music Video
Director:
Dishant Pradhan
Director
of Photography: Vashistha Pradhan
Chief
Assistant Director: Sujan Lamjel
Edited
by: Dishant & Vazzu
Art
Director: Tejistha Pradhan
Costume
Designer: Pfulmaya
Assistant
Costume Designer: Subeksha Gurung
Assistant
Cinematographer: Akash Pradhan
Production
House: Lasta Studio
Assistant
Production Manager: Nuhang Subba
Colorist:
Shiny Syko
Lead Cast: Rahul N Mukhia, Kewal Subba,
Tenzein Choden
