By Renuka Dhakal

Kathmandu, Apr. 9: A thoughtful and successful director, programme presenter, actor and journalist Yadav Kumar Bhattarai is one of the talented filmmakers of Nepali film fraternity.
Yadav has been in Nepali film and music industry for more than two decades. He joined Nepali film as an artiste from “Pardeshi”, a movie directed by late Deepak Aalok in 1999.
Since then, he has done small roles in different movies, including “Kranti”, “Manmanai Manparaye”, “Shilshila”, “Phaishala” and many other movies.
Jhola, his first film as a director in 2014 became a hit, establishing him as a successful filmmaker of Nepal. The 90-minute long movie was based on a story by Krishna Dharabasi.
The story was about the cruel Sati system (wife had to kill herself upon her husband’s death) that was prevalent in the Nepali society until the 1920s.
Yadav said that this movie has changed the regular pattern of Nepali film.
He further added that a general story of the society could become a big issue for any movie, and it was evident from Jhola.
From the same movie, actress Garima Panta won the Best Actress award at SAARC Film Festival. Also the movie was selected as the Nepali entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards and received different awards in Nepal as well.
Bhattarai directed another movie "Bhor" but it did not bring much success, though the story and presentation was quite promising, said Bhattarai.
“Bhor” was released in 2018 in both Nepali and Maithili language and the movie was based on socio–economic culture of dowry system prevalent in our society.
Bhattarai's "Jhola" and "Bhor" are both concerned with the violence perpetrated against women in the Nepali society.
He is currently working on another project featuring the real scenario of Nepali society. This new project portrays the story of physical, psychological and emotional violence faced by women. Bhattarai loves to explore stories that prevail in the Nepali society and depicts them through the means of movie.
Bhattarai was born in 1974 in Budahbare – 4, Jhapa in a typical farmer family. None of his family members were involved in entertainment industry, but he was attracted to film and music from the earliest days of his life.
He remembers that initially his family did not support his decision to enter the film industry. However, he was so passionate and crazy about entertainment that his family conceded to his passion.
Talking to a The Rising Nepal, he remembered that during his childhood, he and his friends used to play various dramas as part of their childhood games.
Bhattarai had completed his School Leaving Certificate (SLC) from Sanischare Secondary School, Jhapa.
Although he completed Bachelor’s degree in Management from Mechi Multiple Campus, he obsessively continued to develop his passion in journalism and entertainment sector.
He, along with some friends, had published “Swatantra Aawaj” newspaper from Jhapa. However, they stopped it in six months.
Then he started working in Kathmandu-based newspaper “Pratipachhya Saptahik” as a Jhapa-based correspondent.
However, his interest in art and journalism was growing and he decided to move to Kathmandu to pursue his interest.
Bhattarai was continuously working as a journalist in various weekly newspapers.
Bhattarai said while working in journalism, he met various directors and artistes from the Nepali entertainment industry.
His meeting with director Dipak Aalok brought about a big change in his life and he shifted to Nepali filmdom from journalism.
In 1998 he also took a professional journalism course and did Masters in Journalism. However, his interest in journalism had diminished as he was drawn to cinema and entertainment sector. He worked as a reporter, chief reporter and even editor in various weekly newspapers, magazines and television.
Bhattarai is a pioneer in making music videos of old Nepali songs. He has produced over 600 music videos as well as videos for the duet and old Nepali songs. He started making music videos while running "Bhaka” (a folk song programme) on Nepal Television.
He made music videos of various valuable old songs including “Aamai le Sodhlin Khoi Chora Bhani”, “Yo Daajuko Mirmire Aankha”, “Pidima Baser Meri Aama Rudihun Malai Samjhera”.
He further said that during his music making process, he visited various districts of Nepal to understand the underlying culture and system of the various ethnic groups so that he could cover such cultures through folk music.
Bhattarai has been running his own audio video production company “Media For Culture Pvt. Ltd” from which he produces documentaries, ads and more.
During the nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to combat novel coronavirus, Bhattarai is taking this time as a great opportunity to self–review and evaluate oneself for making a better routine for balanced life.