Nepal’s first animated feature film, The Legend of Shankhadhar (Shankhadhar ye Bakhaa)-based on the life of Shankhadhar Saakhwa, a legendary hero and the founder of Nepal Sambat calendar—was screened amid a function held at Greenford Town Hall, in London, UK, over the weekend. The screening marked the Nepal Sambat New Year 1137.

The movie will trace the life of Saakhwa who is believed to have paid off the debt of all of Kathmandu Valley’s residents after he stumbled upon an accidental fortune. According to legends, the Nepal Sambat began to commemorate the saint-like gesture, with historical documents referring to the subsequent years as “the year after all debts were paid.”

Filmed under the banner of Yantrakala Studios, the film is animated by a team comprising artists Sanyukta Shrestha, Anjana Shrestha, Niyukta Shrestha, Bigyan Prajapati and Prajnal Kakshapati.

The film features voice over by Nepali cine veterans like Madan Krishna Shrestha, Rajaram Poudel, Kiran KC and Madan Das Shrestha; while, it features score by Bishwo Shahi and vocals by Nisha Desar. The dance sequences featured in the film have been choreographed by Sunita Rajbhandari.

The film is slated to premiere in the UK and in the US, simultaneously, on December 11.

The Legend of Shankhadhar will be released in Nepal on December 17. The movie will be released in both Nepal Bhasa and Nepali, along with English subtitles.