Much-awaited feature film Dhanapti has made it to theatres across the country. The film—directed by Dipendra K Khanal and written by, and starring,Khagendra Lamichhane—premiered at Kumari Hall in the Capital this weekend and has been received with mixed reviews. 

Coming from a duo behind 2016’s acclaimed Pashupati Prasad had made Dhanapti a film to look forward to among critics and filmgoers. But to borrow journalist Kishore Nepal’s quip on Twitter, Dhanapti is fun but not up to Pashupati Prasad’s 

level. Nepal tweeted after the premiere show, “Dhanapati is enjoyable. But, not up to the mark Pashupati Prasad had left... Dhanapti’s conclusion is unnatural. Has there been a lapse in the application put into it?” 

While for another user, @sristee44, “Dhanapati was really just an average movie. But @Khagendrame amazed me with his acting yet again. Movie could’ve been better though.” 

One of the most comprehensive review comes from Nepal magazine’s film critic, Gokarna Gautam. Gautam, in his two-starred review, writes, “Even though Dhanapati tries to continue the legacy of Pashupati Prasad in regards to its story, characterisation and presentation, the film lags four steps behind Pashupati Prasad.

Lamichhane’s satire of politics is only surfacial. While, director Khanal fails to put in enough energy in amping up the already confused plotline. Despite it, however, the film is not ‘loud’; it’s close to life.” Gautam adds, “Dhanapati might be a good ‘time-pass’ film but it doesn’t enriches the soul. If one compares it with Pashupati Prasad, however, it only disappoints.” 

Dhanapati tells the story of an average working-class man who works in a restaurant in the Capital, and how he, albeit inadvertently, gets entangled with national politics. Along with Lamichhane, the film stars actors Aashant Sharma and Surakshya Pant in the lead roles.