Santosh Bhakta Shrestha

Santosh Bhakta Shrestha is a Nepalese instrumentalist recognised for his mastery of the esraj, a bowed string instrument used in Indian classical and related musical traditions. Based in Nepal, he is regarded as one of the few prominent professional esraj performers in the country and has contributed to introducing the instrument to wider audiences through concerts, recordings, and cultural collaborations.

Shrestha has appeared in numerous national and international musical programmes and cultural events. His performances have included participation in the “Kala Samvad” series organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Nepal, where he presented classical instrumental music to diverse audiences. He has also collaborated with musicians from different traditions, including tabla artist Navaraj Gurung, and has participated in cross-cultural concerts such as programmes organised by the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, performing alongside Japanese koto and guitar musicians.

In addition to live performances, Santosh Bhakta Shrestha has contributed to recordings and musical projects. His classical album “Àroha Esraj Classic” (2009) features instrumental interpretations highlighting the expressive qualities of the esraj. He has also participated in experimental and fusion works, including contributing esraj music to the short film “Rasa: Reckoning with Indo-Fusion,” a project exploring the evolution of fusion music that was presented at South Asian film festivals.