As part of the weekly screening of indie films by the Film Critics’ Society of Nepal, the Samten Bhutia directorial Tandro was screened and discussed at Martin Chautari this week. Tandro follows a string of movies put up as part of the FiCSON Films series hosted by the umbrella association of Nepali film journalists.

Prior to this, the series has seen screening of films that have brought to the screen unique and highly original stories by up-and-coming filmmakers—films such as Sanghuro, Soongava, Desh Khojdai Jaada, Ghampani, Bijuli Machine, and a string of short films, Punte ko Pangro, Naya Jhul, Beyond the White Cane, Gemini, and Ruwa, among others. All of these films are considered to be an oasis in the desert of Nepal’s largely commercial film industry.

Tandro’s premise is the ten-year long Maoist insurgency, which has provided inspiration for quite a few works of art of late, and is based on a book Smriti ka Dob Haru, penned by former Maoist combatant Gangabahadur Lama, who was injured during the insurgency. The book, as the film, recounts the days Lama (enacted in the film by Dayahang Rai), endured after he was injured and was left behind by his comrades. Though inherently tragic in its premise, the film escapes the overtly sentimental tenor that a film of this nature might have plunged into; instead the film captures the realities of rural life and the general atmosphere of the time—complimented by a lively cast comprising Rai, along with Ram Babu Gurung, Saraswati Chaudhary, Rajan Khatiwada, Buddhi Tamang and Sudam Ck, among others.

Presided by director Bhutia, along with writer Lama, and author of the book Rolpa Suina, Nabin Bibhas, the event at Martin Chautari followed a brief discussion about the film after the screening.

Speaking at the event, director Bhutia said that he aimed for a film that would explore the psychological dynamics of one particular character rather than to pass a commentary on the war. “I tried to look at the silver linings through the character’s eyes. I was very touched by the book Lama wrote and I tried to be honest to the psychology of the character and humanity in the war-affected regions,” Bhutia said. “Tandro (thread in English) is a metaphor for hope, between despair and will to live, which this character clings on to,” Bhutia added.