Whenever we decide to watch a movie, Nepali movies are somehow not at the top of our lists. This could very well be because Nepali movies often get a bad reputation due to their crude humor and over-the-top fight scenes, however there are quite a few gems hidden in the Nepali movie catalogue that definitely deserve your attention. We’ve compiled 7 best Nepali movies from different genres that deserve a watch.
1. Seto Surya
Director: Deepak Rauniyar
Release: 2016
Being Nepal’s top choice for the Best Foreign Film category at the 90th Academy Awards, a lot of us might be familiar with the name but haven’t seen this movie. Seto Surya offers a realistic look on Nepal’s traditions and practices. It shows how politics and the civil war has ruined families and severed bonds, how the grim realities of caste discriminations are still alive and well in today’s day and age and how family dynamics work in the Nepali society. The movie portrays realistic problems, many of which are relatable to the average Nepali person.
The movie is also wonderfully directed and the acting by Dayahang Rai is commendable. Overall, Seto Surya is definitely worth a watch.
The movie is available for purchase on iTunes.
2. Kalo Pothi
Director: Min Bahadur Bham
Release: 2016
Kalo Pothi was a successful film upon release. Not only was it the first Nepali film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival, but it also gained recognition in several film festivals and managed to impress both critics and audiences alike. It’s set in a war torn village, the sentiment of which many Nepali audiences were able to relate to. The movie is beautifully shot, highlighting the beauty of the setting. The story is touching as we watch two innocent children navigate the small world they are raised in, and the consequences and the implications of the temporary cease fire from the civil war. This movie has a little bit of everything, comedy, seriousness, real world implications, but most of all, it has heart; and that truly makes it one of the best Nepali movies of all time.
The DVD is available for purchase on Amazon.
3. Pashupati Prasad
Director: Dipendra K Khanal
Release: 2016
Pashupati Prasad offers an interesting look at our day to day lives. The plot is mostly simple and easy to follow while also being attention grabbing and unique. The main character and namesake of the movie, Pashupati Prasad, is a fun fellow to follow and he develops several connections with colorful individuals, all of which seem authentic and meaningful. Struggling to pay off his father’s debts, he comes across many hardships but stays optimistic for the most part and carries on. The ending delivers an emotional blow and it really hits how three dimensional the characters are. The light hearted tone mixed in with heavy subjects is balanced well and makes Pashupati Prasad worth a watch.
The movie is available on YouTube.
4. Sano Sansar
Director: Alok Nembang
Release: 2008
Unlike the heavy-handed movies above, Sano Sansar is a nice change of tone. It is a lighthearted romance movie where two people fall in love online without knowing that they actually know each other in real life. While this concept may seem played out now, back when the movie came out, it was still new and executed very well too. Both of the leads are good actors and have genuinely good chemistry with each other. While the inspiration from other Hollywood movies can be seen in the movie’s plot, the director has really made this story his own and made it fit in the Nepali context well. It lacks the overacting and unnaturalness found in many Nepali romance movies and is a cute, refreshing story. Sano Sansar is worth a watch if you’re looking for a light-hearted love story.
The movie is available on YouTube.
5. Jhola
Director: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Release: 2014
Jhola presents a grim reality on the Sati Pratha that was practiced in Nepal for as recently as 101 years ago. It is a heartbreaking story about a woman who somehow survives the horrific Sati ceremony but now has nowhere to go as she is ostracized from the society she once lived in. The conditions she and her son are living in are almost horrifying once we realize that it isn’t fiction and is in fact an actual reality that was practiced in our country. We would recommend Jhola to every Nepali as we should all know the realities of how women were treated in this country until up to only a few generations ago.
The movie is available on YouTube.
6. Kagbeni
Director: Bhusan Dahal
Release: 2008
Kagbeni is a retelling of the old folk story called The Monkey’s Paw. The concept is already interesting on its own, but the director has ensured this movie is made with nuance and the elements of horror from the original story are not lost. The movie deals with the themes of greed and how everything in life has a price. The atmosphere of tension is well maintained and the music lines up well with the plot. Kagbeni is worth a watch if you’re looking for a good Nepali horror.
Currently not legally available online.
7. Highway
Director: Deepak Rauniyar
Release: 2012
Highway is an underrated story about people who are stuck on a bus because of a roadblock and how every one of them has deep and intricate lives of their own. Highway is the kind of movie that makes you think about how every stranger you’ve ever passed by on the street lives a unique life, one that you might never know about. Some are dealing with relationship problems, some are struggling to get out of debt while some are stuck in difficult positions in life. While the movie didn’t do well at the box office and is not considered one of the best Nepali movies of all time, we do think it’s worth a watch simply for the nuance with which it handles multiple intricate subjects.
Currently not legally available online.
