Paankali, a film made entirely in the Khas language and shot in the Far-west, is currently being screened in locations across the Karnali region. Directed by artist Khagendra Neupane, the film is based on the many malpractices prevalent in the Karnali region.

Revolving around the tragic story of love and loss that mires its titular character Paankali, the movie draws light to the arduous lifestyle the rural Karnali residents are compelled to lead, even today.

Speaking about the motifs of the film, director Neupane says, “The film centres on the life of an underprivileged girl, who goes through  many trials and tribulations at a tender age—child marriage, the impacts of the dowry system, the caste system, among other social malpractices.”

“We have worked our best to capture the Karnali lifestyle, with the use of costume, and the vernacular language used here,” adds director Neupane.

Paankali is Neupane’s debut feature. Popular in the region as a folk singer, Neupane has directed four short films so far. The movie features actors Manu Adhikari (as the titular Paankali), Krishna Raj Dhamala, and Ashok Singh, in lead roles.

Paankali is yet another film that has brought Karnali’s lifestyle and culture to movie screens, after Kalo Pothi, which also was set in the Far-western district and employed tonalities of the Khas language. The Min Bahadur Bham directorial has been nominated from Nepal as a selection for the Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards.