A toddler Shyam would sleep on the laps of Magar Gaine– his grandfather– when the latter evoked mesmerizing tunes from the sarangi. Like his grandfather Magar, his father Ramsharan Nepali was a big name in the folk vista of Nepal. His home was frequented by many noted musicians, thus, Shyam found both teachers and mentors at home. Besides that, he also went to the music school established by musician Subha Bahadur for a period of a year.

Shyam is the most sought-after sarangi–the quintessential Nepali violin– player in Nepal today. He is not only known for his uncanny style of creating sounds but also credited for modernizing and improvising sarangi.

Shyam made his maiden appearance at a musical competition held at then Royal Nepal Academy (now Nepal Academy) when he was 15. Since then he has collaborated with various noted musicians, such as, Pablo de Lucia, Chicoria, and Flamenco musicians to name a few. His interest lies in researching on different sounds of different instruments and experimenting with new techniques in music.