Traditional Himachali Folk Song “Bharthari” Launched on YouTube, Reviving Heritage with Modern Flair.
Shimla:
A new Himachali folk song, “Bharthari”, inspired by the ancient tale of King Bhartari renouncing his kingdom and embracing forest life, has been officially launched on YouTube. The song was released by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Mandi, Apoorv Devgan, who unveiled it with a special ceremony.
The song features the voice of popular Shimla-based singer Kishan Verma, known for his hit “Pink Plazo”. “Bharthari” is performed in the Upper Shimla dialect and was produced under the banner of I Saur Studio. The music for the song has been composed by Shashi Bhushan Negi, with direction by Pankaj Vaidya from Mandi’s Kotli region.
The video, shot using high-quality cinematic cameras, showcases locations from across Himachal Pradesh, including the Padam Palace in Rampur, Rajmahal in Mandi, and Barot. The video editing, color grading, and CGI work were handled by Hiten Thakur from Mandi. The visual narrative focuses on the emotional pain and separation of King Bhartari’s mother and wife after his departure.
The lead roles in the video are played by Suresh Sood, Shakina Negi, Sarita Handa, Nishant Thakur, Devina, Sunny Rana, and Isha Kinoura. Suresh Sood, who also runs I Saur Studio, shared that the project took nearly two years to complete.
Kishan Verma, the lead singer, emphasized the significance of preserving traditional Himachali folk music, especially as modern fast-paced, dance-centric songs dominate the music industry. “Bharthari” is performed in a slow, traditional rhythm that aims to revive and safeguard this fading art form.
DC Mandi congratulated the entire team and wished them success for the future, praising their efforts in keeping Himachali culture alive through music.
