With over 1,800 songs to her name, millions of views, and a voice that stays with you long after the music stops, Eleena Chauhan is more than a singer, she is a movement in herself.
Raised in Birtamod, Jhapa, Eleena never set out to become a star. “Back in school, my friends used to tell me I had a good voice,” she recalls. “But I never thought it would take me this far.” It was her teacher who first pushed her to sing a female version of the trending song, Insta Ko Photo Cover. “I just posted it without thinking much,” she says. “Two days later, it was going viral, trending alongside the original song.”
That simple act of sharing her voice online unlocked a world of opportunities, and challenges. While her early covers brought attention from composers and fans alike, they also came with controversies that made her retreat briefly from the spotlight. “Things were being said that had nothing to do with the music,” she explains. “So, I took a step back to figure out who I wanted to be as an artist.”
During the pandemic lockdown, she released her first original song, K Maya Lagcha Ra, which turned out to be a massive hit. It marked a turning point, not only musically, but emotionally. “Since then, I have not sung any covers. It’s been almost ten years, and I have never looked back.”
Her recent chart-topping single Chhutyo Pirima (Breakup Party) took things to another level. A powerful anthem of post-breakup strength, the song resonated deeply with listeners, especially women. “The lyricist wrote it before my divorce,” Eleena shares. “He approached me saying I could bring it to life. At first, I was hesitant as people were already talking more about my personal life than my music. But then I thought: If I sing a love song later, they will say it is about someone new; I cannot stop anyone. So, I chose to own it.”
For Eleena, Chhutyo Pirima became more than a breakup song, it was a statement of empowerment. “I sang it for every woman who refuses to stay silent in a relationship where she is not respected. I wanted girls to feel powerful. I was living that truth, and I poured it into the song.”
But perhaps her boldest act came not in music, but in the civic stage. Following relentless online harassment, character attacks and vulgar messages after her divorce, Eleena took legal action, filing a case against nearly 18 individuals. “At first, I stayed quiet and hoped it would stop. But it did not,” she says. “I realised they saw my silence as weakness. That is when I decided – Enough.”
Her decision was a turning point, not just for her, but for women in media across Nepal. “We live in a time where social media can be more dangerous than a weapon,” she says. “If I have a voice that people listen to, why should I hide? Speaking up gave others the courage to speak too.”
Since filing her case, Eleena has received countless messages from women, many victims of domestic violence. “Some sent me pictures, some asked how to find a lawyer and I help them. I told them: Go live on Facebook. Record everything. Do not put your hands in your pockets, fight back. If no one teaches you how to stand up, I will.”
While she is fiercely protective of her message, Eleena is also clear-eyed about the state of Nepal’s music industry. “Right now, people are chasing virality and views. Songs are being written to go viral, not to touch hearts,” she says. “There is a lack of soul in today’s music. The kind that used to give us goosebumps is missing.”
She also highlights issues like gatekeeping and groupism within the industry but acknowledges that things are changing. “Financially, it is much better now. Back in the cassette era, artists did not earn like we can today. Thanks to social media, young singers do not need to leave the country to make it big. There is hope.”
Still, she believes in using her influence to shift the narrative, not just for herself, but for every woman watching her rise. “I am not just my parents’ daughter anymore; I belong to this country. My story, my voice, it is not mine alone.”
As her journey continues to unfold, one thing is certain: Eleena Chauhan is not just a voice for our time, she’s a voice for the future.
”I sang Chhutyo Pirima for every woman who refuses to stay silent in a relationship where she is not respected. I wanted girls to feel powerful. I was living that truth, and I poured it into the song”’
