Sister Act

Ani Choying Drolma may possibly be the only nun with a pop star-like fan following. She has been travelling around the world,taking Tibetan Buddhist chants and feast songs to mainstream audiences. She has multiple albums to her credit,Cho (1997),Dancing Dakini (1999),and Choying (2000),while her songs and original music have also appeared in commercial albums such as Head Massage by Soul Flip and the Buddha Bar compilation. Drolma’s latest work is a collaboration with musician AR Rahman. “He invited me to perform for one of his projects. It was a wonderful experience not only because I worked with a world-renowned musician but also because I had the opportunity to collaborate with singers from India and Jordan,” she says. The album is scheduled to be released in India on August 15.

For 42-year-old Drolma,who is from Nepal,singing is not only a passion but a spiritual path and practice of meditation. At 13,she ran away from home to escape child marriage. She joined a nunnery where she was taught Buddhist meditation and chants,and received spiritual training by meditation master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and his wife. But popularising her music was never on Drolma’s mind until she met American guitarist Steve Tibbetts. Drolma was 19 when Tibbetts visited the Nagi Gompa,near Kathmandu. He was charmed by her soulful music and invited her to perform at concerts in the US along with his band. This presented an opportunity to reach out to people beyond the monastic walls. Ever since,she has been travelling extensively across Europe and Asia,treating the world to her melodious chants and songs.