Paaniphoto: Tale of a boy, missing since Maoist insurgency

Kathmandu, July 23:  Paaniphoto, directed by Khagendra Lamichhane, is scheduled to be released in cinema halls across the country from July 29.

 The movie is the story of the people who lost their loved ones during the decade-long Maoist insurgency from 1996 to 2006. 

While several people were killed during the insurgency, many others are still missing, and this film narrates how the families of the victims are still searching for the missing people.

Many people went missing during the Maoist insurgency and the film is all about a little boy who had gone missing during the conflict and how his family is still searching for him, said Lamichhane. 

“The emotion of the film somehow connects me as well,” said filmmaker Lamichhane.

 “My maternal uncle went missing at the age of 16 and still our 94-year-old grandmother is hoping for her son’s return,” Lamichhane said. “Grandma still talks about our maternal-uncle.  I have been hearing about his disappearance since my childhood and it still triggers my subconscious mind and makes me feel emotional.”

Stating that hope forces people to wait, he said many families were still waiting for their sons and daughters to return one day and the pain of waiting for their loved ones can be seen in their eyes.  

He said that the film shows the struggle of a family while searching for their son lost during the Maoist conflict.

“I have spoken to the families of those who lost their close ones during the Maoist conflict in Bardiya and Ropla districts and I can still see the hope and pain in them,” he said.

 For this film, Khagendra has had deep conversations with more than 10 families from Bardiya and Rolpa who had lost their loved ones during the Maoist conflict.

Talking about her role in the movie, one of the lead actresses Malika Mahat said, “My character’s name is Radha and she is very strong emotionally but an introvert.  The film is a social drama and shows the post- effects caused by Maoist revolution.”

Likewise, another actress Menuka Pradhan has played the role of the  mother of the lost boy. 

 Her character name is Maiya, a mother who lost her child years ago, and she is such a stubborn mother that she is still trying hard to locate her missing child, said actress Pradhan. 

Anup Baral,  Prakash Ghimire, Maotse Gurung, Buddhi Tamang, Ramesh Adhikari, Kamal Mani Nepal, Anuj Pandey, Radha Shrestha and Shyam Kumar Khadka have also done the film. 

The film is being produced in collaboration with Tukee Arts productions and Manjushree Film Productions.

These production companies have already produced two films-- Pashupati Prasad and Dhanapati. Both the films have acted by Lamichhane himself in the lead role. 

Paaniphoto was shot in Bardiya, Rolpa and Syangja districts.