Dayahang Rai film marks both beginning and end of 2080

Kathmandu, Apr. 13: The Nepali New Year of 2080 BS kicked off with the debut ‘Jari’ featuring Dayahang Rai and concluded with another Dayahang Rai film ‘Degree Maila: MA 3rd Class.’

Throughout the year, 52 films hit the theaters, but only a handful succeeded in drawing substantial audiences.

Directed by Upendra Subba, ‘Jari’ showcased Limbu culture and emerged as a successful venture, accumulating a total of Rs 170 million.

Meanwhile, ‘Mahajatra' directed by Pradip Bhattarai starring Bipin Karki and Hari Bansha Acharya, Rabindra Baniya entered its fourth week in theaters, amassing a gross collection of Rs.140 million in Nepal.

According to data from the Film Development Board, 86 international films were released in 2080.

 Bollywood films like ‘Animal’, ‘Jawan’, and Hollywood films ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ were among the high-grossing international films at the Nepali box office. 

As the Nepali New Year 2081 BS approaches, cinemas are bustling with screenings of Rambabu Gurung’s Degree Maila: MA 3rd Class’ and Fidel Devkota’s ‘The Red Suitcase’. 

Despite being released on the final day of 2080 BS, these films will be the major release in the New Year.

‘The Red Suitcase’, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, marks Fidel Devkota’s debut feature film.

This film, belonging to the ‘mystery realism’ genre, portrays the protagonist's journey to transport a dead body’s coffin and red suitcase from Qatar to a village in Nepal.

Saugata Malla’s character is assigned to deliver the dead body and during this journey, he becomes a witness to both mundane and supernatural events. 

It also stars Prabin Khatiwada, Bipin Karki, and Srishti Shrestha.

Running for 1 hour and 27 minutes, the film explores the social dimension of Nepali foreign employment and attempts to break away from traditional social realism. It has been released in theaters other than the QFX chain.

‘Degree Maila’ stars Dayahang Rai and Aanchal Sharma in lead roles, with Maotse Gurung, Prakash Ghimire, Bijay Baral, Buddhi Tamang, Kamal Mani Nepal, and other artists in supporting roles. 

The 2-hour and 30-minute-long film, belonging to the comedy and drama genre, narrates the struggle between the protagonist’s desire for academic achievement and societal expectations.