This afternoon I sat in a packed auditorium to watch Behuli From Meghauli, which is currently on its second week of screening! I am pretty sure it was sold out. I have never sat so close to the screen, second row, just to give you an idea. This is more my rambling about the film than a review. You have been warned about spoilers.
I went to the cinema to see this film as I wanted to watch an entertainer, a cinema that’s light, bright and easy. Something that did not require too much thinking. If you’ve seen Nepali cinema over the past year there have been a handful few indie films that have come and though they excel in certain areas, they’re not the lightest of viewing. Of course, there’s another section of Nepali cinema that frankly is best left unseen. I say that with no regret because I have supported Nepali cinema for the longest.
The fun catchy songs, vibrant colours, Swastima’s likeable on-screen presence got me and my cousins to the cinema. Unsurprisingly, the film looks great. Meghauli in Chitwan is one of my favourite localities and the makers have captured it well! The song Udayo Mann has started popping up on my social media, yet I still hadn’t got around to watching the music video. I loved it. I already shared it to a friend! The actors have done a good job. I cant fault or say I expected more from any actor onscreen. Swastima Khadka is someone who’s delivered well and her charm, wittiness has carried the film. However, there are many characters that stood out for me including Bijay Baral, Simran Khadka’s role packs a punch and the actor who plays father to Swastima, who I am sure is very much a veteran senior actor, has warm presence.
Funny one-liners here and there help create light moments but Swastima Khadka’s character Meena desperately trying to woo her love back till the very end of the film, even after he (Nischal Basnet) has told her that he does not marry her, was frankly tiring to watch. Towards the first part of the second-half, I just sat there and thought, Meena… I think you are the problem. You are twenty-nine years old; mature enough to let go. Yes, be heartbroken but when someone walks out; move on. The story and how it pans out makes Meena seem desperate, with no purpose but to marry the man who she had been waiting for seven years. For this very reason, I was so happy to see the role of Basna Timilsina who plays the lawyer cousin. She recently went through a divorce and also moved out of her home, maita, because – she’s a total girl boss!
I fully recognise that there are probably more Meena than the lawyer girl in Nepal. Additionally, staying true to the title the film is obsessed with marriage and especially getting Meena married because she’s one year away from turning thirty. This is all very much a mirror of Nepali society and Nepalis (even outside of Nepal ha).
If you’ve read till this point then you probably have got a glimpse more of my views on society & love, marriage and having a purpose. Getting back to the film, I was pleased to see the film end with a focus on Meena having her own voice; her own agency even though it was pretty uncomfortable to watch her make such a scene till the very end to fight for a man who had clocked out within the first few scenes of the film!
It’s still entertaining and watchable.
As we left the cinema and went for our ice-cream, I asked my bainis what they thought of the film. They really liked it. I asked what they felt about Meena being so hooked and going to such lengths for a guy that had no love for her. Thankfully, that part, they also mentioned they were not fond of. Phew.
Congratulations to the Behuli From Meghauli team, a win is a win! Enjoy!
