Mukti (left, first row) and his several bands of brothers have consistently kept the blues alive in Nepal for more than 20 years. He has transformed from a boy dreaming of being in a rock band to forming some of Kathmandu's most happening groups, from becoming a father and businessman in Spain to returning to the music scene here time and again.

Mukti grew up listening to everything: from ethnic Newari music to his older brother's strumming and singing. "My brother would leave the guitar in the room after he was done and then I'd pick it up and have a go at it," recalls Mukti. In 1979, as a teenager, he formed a band called Radium in which he was the bassist. He got himself a custom-made guitar from India and soon life was swinging. "For a while it was what we'd dreamt of," he says of fame, parties and money, but creative differences cropped up and the band split.

In 1982, Elegance was launched with Mukti as lead guitarist. The members shared their vision of writing Nepali originals to playing western covers. It was difficult making ends meet. "Now I hear of singers making money, buying bikes and cars after releasing an album," says Mukti, "Things were different back then."

Mukti moved to Spain with his Spanish wife, Maria. The blues man turned into a businessman, shuttling back and forth for three years before he packed up his ventures and returned to music, doing everything from busking on streets to jamming with bands.

In 1996, the first Mukti and Revival performed their last show together in Basantapur. Their opening act Newaz impressed Mukti and they later morphed into the new Revival with Roshan, Upendra, Rabindra and now Maria. In 2000, Mukti and Revival released its hit debut album Kalanki Ko Jam. The second album Bujhai Deu was released in 2003.

This time, Mukti has come to Nepal not for music but for the Samyak Mahadan, a Buddhist festival that takes place every 12 years at Swayambhu. Mukti's father has chaired the organising committee for 48 years now and this is the second time Mukti has worked as the festival's chief co-ordinator.

"I came for a different reason altogether, I wasn't planning on recording anything," he says. But Roshan had arranged for a concert in Shillong on 6 February so Mukti's stay in Nepal has been extended.

"I figured the band might as well record a few songs since I'm going to be here for awhile," he adds. Mukti also fronts a blues trio called Mn'M in Spain and says with a grin on his face: "We're not that famous in Spain but most people around our town know me as that guitarrista from Nepal."

Kashish Das Shrestha