It takes one artiste to recognise another. Mangal Krishna Shrestha is a musician and painter with a difference: he promotes other people's works not his own.

Mangal Krishna began his artistic career painting landscapes in his bookshop in Basantapur with his favourite music playing in the background. The combination of the three arts should have kept him busy but it was not enough. His realisation that Nepali music would suffer with growing foreign influence prompted him to start his own production company East Meets West (EMW) in 1996. The intention was to promote Nepali classical and folk music and musicians. "There were so many good musicians but very few albums actually produced," recalls Mangal Krishna.

By now his company has produced over three-dozen albums of various genres such as classical, folk, fusion and even spiritual. Heart Sutra, a fusion of Nepali folk and classical tunes sold over 13,000 copies. "The album evokes Nepal and is a way to remember the country," says Mangal Krishna. EMW's latest releases are two English albums Free Your Mind and The Answer by one of the most talented musical groups in the country, Full Circle.

Part of the trick is to make classical and folk music also glamorous. "People had the concept that classical music was meant only for the older generation, now more and more people are convinced that to forget our roots is to erase our identity," he says.

The Kirateswor Sangit Ashram in Pashupati, of which he is an executive member, not only holds classical concerts every full moon, it also conducts training programs for young musicians and those interested in learning the art. For the past 12 years the ashram has run just on donations.

Mangal Krishna plays the flute and madal himself but does not aim to produce his own album. He still continues to paint landscapes and semi-abstract works but this is a rare person more willing to promote other people's talent than his own. He says: "There are so many really good musicians who need to be heard still, there is no time for my own music and paintings." Maybe he's saving it for his retirement.

Alok Tumbahangphey