The last few years in Nepali film industry have seen some notable film journalists and critics taking to directing feature films: Dabbu Chhetri’s Rahadani, Subrat Acharya’s Adhakatti, Dipendra Lama’s Ghampani, and Deepak Rauniyar’s Highway and White Sun.

Now journalist Phulman Bal is slated to join the league, with the film Neerphul. The producers on Friday announced that about 70 percent of the film’s shooting has already been completed and they target to release the film by January 2018. 

The film is about the socio-political changes that the twin earthquake of 2015 brought in the Ruby Valley, in Dhading, where a large portion of the film is shot. The film, director Bal said, tells the story of a quake-affected family and its members’ quest to reconcile differences.

“The idea for the film came about when I read a news story, an especially touching one, on a family displaced by the quakes. I thought fictionalising that story would make a good film, through which we could also explore the socio-political condition of Nepal after the quake,” director Bal said. 

Neerphul features actors Dayahang Rai, Shanti Waiba and child actor Jigme Chhoying Ghising in the lead roles. 

Speaking about the film at the function, actor Dayahang Rai said, “These days, I have become very selective, I only decide upon a project if something about it especially strikes me.

The subject of Neerphul is strong and an emotional one. And it was also a project where I could explore a very different and a more challenging role than the ones I have done of late.”

Neerphul is Bal’s first feature film and second directorial, after 2012’s short film Cellphone which tells the story of how the advent of mobile phone has influenced the lifestyle of people from the Tamang community. 

“Among many things that Neerphul touches upon, the lax response of government in the aftermath of disasters is also one,” Bal said, “Every work of social realism ultimately points to the systematic shortcoming on part of the state, and Neerphul does that too. But more than that, the film explores the society and rich culture of the Ruby Valley.” 

Along with Rai, Waiba and Ghising, Neerphul also features Rekha Thapa, “in a special role”, and actors Buddhi Tamang, Saroj Aryal, Laxmi Bardewa, Rajan Khatiwada and Jeevan Baral, among others. 

The film will hit theatres in January 2018.