Balen Shah's Viral Caption "Jhikkai Jhikkai Maya Tamlai" Turned Into a Full Song by Singer Rajesh Payal Rai

Kathmandu — A heartfelt line posted on social media by Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah during his election campaign tour has now found its way into a complete musical composition — and the internet is loving it.

While visiting several districts of the Sudurpaschim (Far-Western) Province as part of his campaign trail, Balen Shah shared a photo of himself standing on a snow-covered road, accompanied by the caption: "Sudur ab dur naai, jhikkai jhikkai maya tamlai" — loosely translated as, "The Far West is no longer far, I have immense love for you." The line, blending a political message with a deeply personal expression of affection for the region, quickly went viral across social media platforms. Millions of TikTok videos and Instagram Reels were created using the phrase, and it continues to resonate warmly with the general public.

Now, celebrated singer Rajesh Payal Rai has taken that memorable caption and transformed it into a full-fledged song, gifting it to Balen Shah as a tribute and a gesture of goodwill for his electoral journey. Sharing the song's video link on social media alongside a screenshot of Balen's original viral post, Rai dedicated the track to the popular leader.

In his post, Rai referred to Balen Shah as a "future Prime Minister," writing: "I gave a song as a gift. Whether you watch it or not is entirely your choice. The words — 'Jhikkai Jhikkai Maya Tamlai' — are taken from the status of future Prime Minister Balen Shah."

The transformation of a politician's social media caption into a musical creation has struck many as a fascinating and feel-good moment at the intersection of politics, culture, and art — a reminder of how authentic expressions can transcend their original context and take on a life of their own.