‘Mohar’ and ‘Cetamol’ shine in festival screenings

KATHMANDU: Two Nepali films, Mohar and Sitamol, released last Friday targeting the festivals of Gaijatra, Janai Purnima, and Rakshya Bandhan, have garnered strong support from audiences.

According to the producers, although both films address social issues, their distinct styles of presentation have helped them win the hearts of viewers.

On the second day of screening, there was a significant audience turnout at cinemas during Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan, indicating that the films are likely to maintain their momentum even after Gaijatra, the production teams expressed confidence.

Mohar, directed and written by Om Pratik, aims to raise public awareness against superstitions such as the tradition of turning innocent young girls into ‘Deuki’ (a ritualized form of servitude to deities).

The film condemns social violence inflicted upon girls under traditional practices.

“Until a few years ago, the Deuki tradition was still prevalent. Therefore, we have portrayed this theme in a contemporary style. The film sends a strong message to end violence against girls under various pretexts. This is an entertaining film that also highlights social evils,” Om Pratik said.

The film features performances by Paul Shah, Benisha Hamal, Niti Shah, Arjun Jang Shahi, and Miss Pavi, among others. Bhupendra Adhikari handled editing, Dipen Basnyat was the cinematographer, and Kumar Maharjan directed the action sequences.

The other film, Cetamol, is based on the story of a family affected by the Maoist conflict. Director Raj Bahadur Sane claims that this film marks a new phase in his directorial career.

“This is very different from my previous works. The story I chose and the vibrant characters brought to life by the cast have made this project special. The film depicts the struggles of a person wounded in the Maoist conflict and his family,” Sane explained.

Lead actor Saugat Malla shared that the film explores the life and struggles of a former combatant trying to rebuild his life.

“The film portrays the challenges faced by a person who went to war to bring change to society and the country but had to fight a different battle to sustain his livelihood. It reflects the impact of conflict on individuals and families and aims to change perspectives,” Malla said.

Alongside Malla, the cast includes Benisha Hamal, Shreekrishna Nirola, Januka Vishwakarma, Lokendra Lekhak, Bhugol Karki, Hiuvala Gautam, Sushil Pokhrel, and Dinesh Regmi. The screenplay was co-written by director Sane and Pradeep Bhardwaj.