Discoveries from Nepal World Cinema

Ghar (Nepali: घर; transl. House) is a 2019 Nepali horror film written and directed by Arpan Thapa under the banner of DS Digital in association with ASAP Entertainment.

How do you write the perfect script? You flush four first

On an ordinary winter's day, Nabin stumbles upon the half burnt flower of his past in his balcony.

Kalu Yadav is gangster who works under Criminal Businesses man Raja . Kalu bails out his friend Vicky from prison and they both decide to work together.

Story of two guys with a mystical twist

In 1994, the Nepalese film "Truck Driver," belonging to the Romance/Drama genres, was crafted by writer Brazesh Khanal and director Rajkumar Sharma. The leading roles featured Shiv Shrestha, Karishma Manandhar, Shree Krishna Shrestha, Madan Krishna Shrestha, and Hari Bansha Acharya. This cinematic creation not only secured its place among Nepal's highest-grossing films but also showcased the comedic talents of the popular Maha Jodi duo, who were celebrated comedians during that era. The film's songs also achieved widespread acclaim, solidifying its cultural impact in Nepal.

Based on a short story by writer Guru Prasad Mainali of the same name, the story follows the lives of husband and wife, Chame and Gauthali. Mainali is a writer from the realism school of thought, or ‘yatharthabadh’ in Nepali. His other popular stories include Naso (The Ward) and Sahid (The Martyr).

As Sridhar prepares for his coming-of-age celebration, his grandfather tells him a shocking story about his family. As he pushes for the truth, his mother is caught in a dilemma between wanting to protect him and wanting to be honest.

Two teenage girls separated by the caste system fight against society to play their favorite instrument Sanai, forbidden to be played by women, while also keeping their friendship alive.

The betrayal by a close friend who falls victim to drug addiction.

The 2014 Nepalese film Kohinoor follows the story of a man who accidentally sells a girl in the Indian market. due to a misunderstanding, he ends up selling a girl named Kohinoor to human traffickers. Saddened and feeling guilty, Siddharth embarks on a perilous journey to save Kohinoor from the clutches of the traffickers. As he navigates through the treacherous world of human trafficking, he faces several challenges and risks his own life to rescue Kohinoor. As they journey together, Siddharth falls in love with Kohinoor, and their love story develops amidst the chaos of their situation.

Knucklebones, or jacks, has existed for more than 2000 years and was first played with the astralagus bones of a sheep. This version –played with stones by two girls seated on the landing of a concrete stairway, people’s legs and occasional monkeys passing by– is close to the Korean Gonggi, with no separate ball. The turn begins by throwing a stone in the air and performing certain actions with the four others before catching it again. Later all are tossed up and received, at least some, on the back of the same hand. Pick-ups are sometimes between splayed fingers. The film blurs the logic of any sequence, dwelling on the leaping, clattering stones, and the agility of dusty hands.

A video diary of a trip to Nepal by artist Ed van der Kooy.

In the heart of the Himalayan hills, shamans travel through the intangible. Their souls explore the world of spirits and ancestors to relieve human beings from their pain. Each one has their own methods: 3 stories: 3 frames of mind; 3 shamans.

Sing, dance, and cheerfully confess.

A love story that also focuses on the culture of the Magar people of Nepal

A talented but temperamental musician struggles with his unpredictable anger, while his kind-hearted partner, who has stood by him since their first meeting, endures his outbursts with patience and love. As their journey unfolds, their relationship is tested by the musician’s internal battles, revealing whether love alone can mend a fractured soul.

In a remote and largely abandoned village, where most of the residents have already left, the story unfolds through Pawan and his grandmother Pamchi, who still remain. As the narrative gradually progresses through these two characters, the film seeks to reflect on the reasons behind the villagers’ departure, the impact and challenges this leaving has brought upon Pawan’s family and the entire village, and metaphorically, on what is left behind.

Women get tangled by the house hold courses, depriving to hear her inner voice of walking toward the light of education and employment opportunities.

Two filmmakers set out for Nepal to find the exact spot from where legendary mountaineer and photographer Vittorio Sella captured the first images of Mount Everest 125 years ago.

The tiresome life of a lighter.

Pakha is a thought-provoking Newari film that explores the invisible walls dividing people along caste lines. Through its characters and their intertwined lives, the movie highlights how social hierarchies and traditional prejudices shape relationships, opportunities, and human connections. With a sensitive portrayal of discrimination and its consequences, Pakha invites viewers to reflect on the barriers society builds and the need for empathy, understanding, and change.

Dimag Ghochne Manche is a powerful documentary chronicling the life and legacy of Ujwal Thapa — a visionary entrepreneur, activist, and political reformer who sparked a civic awakening in Nepal. Through intimate stories and rare archival footage, the film captures how one man’s restless mind challenged conventions, inspired a generation, and redefined what it means to create change from within.

Young people are following the trend of destroying their perfectly teeth and putting golden teeth. They all are inspired by same person. He has crossed eyes and golden teeth. Everyone want to be like him. He is The Gold Teeth. He originally didn't have crossed eyes and his teeth were natural. He was so handsome that all the girls would have crush on him. NOT JUST GIRLS. A pervert old guy chases him and kissed him forcefully making his eyes cross an teeth fall. And he replaces it with gold. One day he is targeted by an assassin. The assassin shoots him but the gold deflects the bullet and it kills the assassin. And this news become known everywhere, everyone admires his coolness and try to be like him.

The story revolves around a schoolgirl who faces the hardships of poverty, discrimination, and the painful realities of early marriage. Her family, burdened by financial stress, sees little choice but to marry her off while she's still a child.

Cat walks to a ball

The story follows a doctor, Raja, who reunites with his lost girlfriend, Maina, after 15 years, portraying the love, struggles, and emotional journey of the two lovers, MainaRaja.

The untold story of 21-year-old Chhesang, who is navigating gender dysphoria and holding onto the hope of full acceptance.

In the remote Tibetan villages of Upper Mustang, Nepal, climate change has desiccated the landscape. Water scarcity has forced the abandonment of Dhye village. The film profiles three resilient women fighting against their fate: Sonam, Kunchok, and Lhakpa. Most villagers have moved down to a river-fed valley and the new frontier town of Chambaleh, where they are growing a commercial apple crop. But Kunchok and Lhakpa stay with their beloved livestock and fields in ancient Dhye village.

Within a spiritual community in the Himalayas of Nepal, a group of women exist in tune with the rhythms of their surroundings. Tasked with praying for deceased humans and animals, the ani hold a shared dedication to the manifestation of peace and wellbeing–a tradition that has lasted through generations of women through feminine oral history and cultural practices.

A girl is carelessly roaming around the woods, when suddenly she gets seduced by mystical figures. This experimental short film is inspired by an existing Nepalese folklore. The folklore is adapted to represent the indigenous Limbu people, and their marriage practices inside the community. This short film talks about the existing ritual that took away the youth, freedom and choices of Limbu women.

'Paaso' is the story of two best friends, Saru and Pramila, who get abducted by a kidnapping group. The film showcases the ruthless struggle for survival.

The film observes the filmmaker’s hometown through an ethnographic lens amid monsoon rains.

Story about a Baba who mastered middle class problem. A question that changed his life.

Two men on a journey to make their next Vulgar Social Awareness Short Movie meets a YouTuber who turns their life upside down.

A father gets a haunting call from his son's class teacher telling him of his son's strange behavior.

This is not the official description but This film appears to have been lost to time, with no one recalling its details, and its poster is seemingly absent from any archives.

A child is separated from his family by evil relatives who want to invade their property. The child is taken care of by a maid, and later, when he grows up, she reveals his backstory to him. As a result, he reunites with his family.

Punte ko Pangro is a story about a child in the countryside of the Kathmandu valley. We follow Punte, a playful boy, who has a toy wheel of his own, but he will do anything to get a bigger one. In his pursuit, he discovers his aspiration and ultimately own potential. The wheel is used as a symbol of supremacy to portray human desire and our passionate struggle to reach higher positions in society.

A documentary following Homan Singh Shivabhakti, a Nepalese farmer. Shivabhakti tells of his love of his buffalo, which changed his and his family's life

Ibemhal, 59, left her home in Manipur and moved to Nepal after her marriage. She now lives in New York. Her life has been dedicated to raising her two daughters while trying to find her own identity in new places. Ibemhal’s eldest daughter, 30-year-old Prasuna, longs to understand her mother, the person. Who is Ibemhal beyond her identity as a mother and a wife? What was her life like in Manipur? Their bond has been shaped by the conflict-ridden socio-political environment in which Prasuna was raised, Nepali society’s patriarchal expectations, and years of living apart. When Ibemhal returns to Nepal to visit Prasuna in 2020, they take a trip to Manipur to visit Ibemhal’s mother.

A young Nepali guy struggles to convince his family to accept his lower caste girlfriend.

Alampu is a beautiful and exceedingly remote village in Nepal. The majority of the settlers there are Thami people, one of the indigenous groups of Nepal. More than 90 percent of them have been involved in the slate production at Alampu. This film includes technical details about slate production in the mountainside mine, and how the slate is worked prior to distribution. In the film we see the social relationships, co-operation between the miners, and the intimacy of the mining families. Strong women perform the tough and arduous work alongside the men. They have to carry heavy slate loads far to sell them. The film also describes the socio-cultural life of the village and its interaction with the environment. The activities of the men and women in the mine, as well as in the village, have an almost poetic dimension.

Sarita, a young mother, is at a turning point of her career. Will her ambition and hard work pay off, or will the four walls of the kitchen confine her as is expected by the society she lives in?

Nepali movie featuring Aaryan Sigdel.

After getting married to a stranger, a newly-wed woman feels uncomfortable in her new home. Instead of seeking comfort with her husband, she is attracted to her sister-in-law.

Two frustrated young men decide to attempt suicide with the hope of their re-incarnation in a better life.

A romantic drama filmed in Australia.

Set against the backdrop of a cruel Rana’s regime, a headstrong village-girl-turned-palace-maid risks everything for a forbidden love, ultimately choosing a tragic death alongside her lover over a life of captive torment.

Saino is a 2019 Nepali drama film directed by Ramesh Thapa and produced by veteran Nepali actress Bhuwan Chand.

Sneha struggles with her mother death while caring her Alzheimer's grandmother.

Shrava Shrestha, 38 years old, lives with her parents in Chabahil, Kathmandu, as she struggles her way through a stigmatized and misunderstood life with Down syndrome. Raised largely by her mother Binu, Shrava begins her pathway of self-expression through daily training, dance, and art. Yet, years of social exclusion and a lack of institutional support place her aspirations for a self-sufficient life under threat. Set against Nepal's limited awareness of intellectual disability, the film examines how care, patience, and belief challenge narrow definitions of ability within society.

In 'A Body Not Mine,' trans women/man open up about their journeys, sharing their deeply personal experiences of identity, struggle, and resilience. This documentary offers an intimate glimpse into how they navigate a world that often misunderstands them, celebrating their courage and their voices.

A girl overcomes the shame of her heritage after her potter grandfather passes away.

Two sisters from the remote high hills of Jumla navigate the harsh realities of city life, selling vegetables and national flags to make ends meet. The volatile city spaces that they momentarily inhabit, merged with their trade, raise intriguing questions surrounding displacement and identity. Their days turn into a restless dance and their bond, a source of strength and resilience.

...........

A man is trapped in a mysterious room filled with cigarettes and ashes.

Co-husband is a portrait of the practice of fraternal polyandry in the communities of the indigenous Humlo people in the Humla district of Nepal. Told from the perspective of the wives and husbands as well as the members of the community who reject this model, the film explores the economic, cultural and emotional dimensions of this custom and the social consequences for those who don’t practice it.

The journey of an eleven years old monk, who finds his way of applying the Buddha’s teachings of compassion and joy in an unconventional way