Actor and comedian Haribansha Acharya’s debut novel, Haribahadur, was released amid a function held at the premises of Nepal Academy, in the Capital, on Saturday. 

Haribahadur is based on the popular Nepali tele-serial Haribahadur Madanbahadur, featuring Acharya himself and his longstanding comedic partner, Madan Krishna Shrestha, who at the release event took the chair of Chief Guest and unveiled the book.

Prior to this publication, Acharya had published his autobiography Cheenna Harayeko Manchhe, which was a big hit among readers. 

About Haribahadur the novel’s genesis, author Acharya writes in Kantipur daily: “When I wrote Cheena Harayeko Manchhe, I didn’t have to think about a subject. What I experienced in my life was the very subject of the book. But when I sat down to write a new book, I had to come up with a new subject. There are plenty of films based on books. But, a book based on a film? This, as far as I know, has never happened. Then, why don’t I attempt it myself? I was excited.” 

Acharya adds: “But then this book is not an exact copy of the tele-film. Only about 15 per cent of the tele-film’s scenes are akin to the novel’s scenes.” 

The event on Saturday started off with a performance featuring Acharya himself, where he acted out a skit as a book salesman before being grilled by an actor impersonating Rishi Dhamala. After the book’s official launch, Acharya engaged in a discussion with author Buddhisagar. Buddhisagar, speaking about the book, said, “There have been observations made that Nepali novels are becoming more and more sentimental and soapy while Nepali movies are giving way to comedy. I think Haribahadur, to some extent, changes that. Written by a comedian, it is a book that offers humour and satire, which is perfectly on cue with precise timing that characterises a comedy show.” 

In conversation with Buddhisagar, Acharya said, “Although I have written scripts for a plenty of movies, this is my first attempt at a novel, and I found a couple of key differences between the two mediums. While at scripts, there are certain limitations, such as, when you write a scene, you also have to think about the financial viability. Writing novel, however, is free of such limitations.” Acharya continued, “Unlike the teleserial, the novel deals with the character Haribahadur’s whole life.”

Speaking at the event, Madan Krishna Shrestha announced that he is also coming up with a book which will be released around August this year. “In the last few years, everyone I meet asks the same question—when will I write a book—refering to Acharya’s China Harayeko Manchhe. The book is on the way,” he said.

Haribahadur is published by Fineprint.