Journey of a Folk Musician
Storyteller : Adit Negi
Himal Prakriti Fellow
Village Kupa, Kamru Panchayat, Kinnaur District,
Himachal Pradesh
Read this story in Hindi
Hidden behind the timeless rhythms of Kinnauri folk music lies the story of a man whose voice once echoed through the valleys. Shri Satish Chander Negi, a self-taught musician from Kupa, Kamru, redefined Kinnauri music in the 80s and 90s, blending age-old traditions with a modern sound. His songs, filled with reflections on life’s fragility, changing times, and a deep longing for Fayul (homeland), became the soundtrack of a generation.
Through this intimate conversation, he opens up about his journey from mountain life to city life, a transition he could never truly make peace with, and how music became his anchor. He recalls recording cassettes with his sister, Smt. Mayum Negi, and the untold stories behind his lyrics. Though his passion for music never turned into a profession, his melodies still resonate across Kinnaur, sung at festivals, weddings, and gatherings even today.
This film uncovers the unseen life behind those songs, a portrait of memory, resilience, and the quiet legacy of a musician who gave his mountains a voice. It is my attempt to document the untold story of the artist behind the melodies that echo through Kinnaur.
Meet the storyteller
Adit Negi
Adit Negi is a post graduate in Film Studies from Ambedkar University. Having lived most of his young life in the cities of the ‘plains’, he is making his way forward in life by going back to his village Kupa (Kamru) in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, where he has been living now for the past 5 years. In his quest to engage with the rich cultural heritage of this region, he has chosen to be physically present and live and learn in the moment.
अदित नेगी ने अंबेडकर यूनिवर्सिटी से फिल्म स्टडीज में पोस्ट ग्रेजुएशन किया हैं। अपना अधिकांश युवा जीवन 'मैदानी' क्षेत्र के शहरों में बिताने के बाद, वह हिमाचल प्रदेश के किन्नौर जिले में अपने गांव कूपा (कामरू) वापस जा, वहां पिछले 5 वर्ष से रह रहे हैं। इस क्षेत्र की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत केसाथ रूबरू हो, वह अपने गांव में रहकर सीखने और खोज करने में अपने आगे की दिशा ढूंड रहा है।
Voices of Rural India
Voices of Rural India is a not-for-profit digital initiative that took birth during the pandemic lockdown of 2020 to host curated stories by rural storytellers, in their own voices. With nearly 80 stories from 11 states of India, this platform facilitates storytellers to leverage digital technology and relate their stories through the written word, photo and video stories.
ग्रामीण भारत की आवाज़ें एक नॉट-फ़ॉर-प्रॉफ़िट डिजिटल प्लैटफ़ॉर्म है जो 2020 के महामारी लॉकडाउन के दौरान शुरू हुई थी, जिसका उद्देश्य ग्रामीण कहानीकारों द्वारा उनकी अपनी आवाज़ में कहानियों को प्रस्तुत करना है। भारत के 11 राज्यों की लगभग 80 कहानियों के साथ, यह मंच कहानीकारों को डिजिटल तकनीक का प्रयोग कर और लिखित शब्द, फ़ोटो और वीडियो कहानियों के माध्यम से अपनी कहानियाँ बताने में सक्रीय रूप से सहयोग देता है।
Amazing story and short film. Would love to see more of them.