For Tsering Choden, who wrote the screenplay along with Sherpa and Kumar Bhattarai, the film also speaks about the futility of war.[break]
Releasing all over Nepal on Friday, May 24, Uma will, says actress Mithila Sharma, take people back to that important time in the history of the country.
Playing mother to Richa Sharma and Saugat Malla in the film, her character could well be the representation of the common citizen caught in the civil war.
With Uma, Sherpa has also placed his hopes on bridging the gap between the mainstream and the artsy films in the industry. “While the subject of the film is grave, the treatment is entertaining and emotional which will touch the audience,” he says.
Shot in a closed camp in Kavre district, the film’s cast and crew are very comfortable with each other. Richa’s favorite scene is at the beginning of the film. “It’s with my mummy,” she says nodding towards her onscreen mother.
CSK/Republica
L to R: Tsering Rithar Sherpa, Mithila Sharma, Tsering Choden, Richa Sharma and Pushkar Gurung.
Working with Tsering Rithar Sherpa was the biggest attraction of the film for them. From veteran actress Mithila Sharma to the comparatively new Richa Sharma, the sheer talent of the director was enough to make them agree to the film.
As a director, Sherpa sounds just the man every actor would love to work with. His actors state that he is very focused, disciplined and positive in his work. He believes that the position of leadership also requires him to ensure that everyone is a good team player, and respecting everyone’s input makes the film that much richer.
The recent trend of organizing a workshop before commencing filming is proving to be very helpful. “It helps breaks the ice amongst the cast and crew, share ideas about the script and improvise on the dialogues”, says actor Pushkar Gurung, who goes by the name Commander in the film.
An ex Maoist commander was brought in to inform the cast about the technical aspects. “How did they speak, did they say laal salaam, what was their chain of command? These were the crucial things we needed to know,” says Sherpa. It was during these workshops they learnt that in the absence of guns, Maoists trained with bamboos.
The desperate times, the political instability, the insurgency and the challenges that the common Nepali people faced are the core of the film. Add doses of humor, romance, drama and songs, what more could an audience expect from a film?
Uma has managed to generate excitement not only in Kathmandu but also in Far West places like Dadeldhura. During one of her visits to the district, Sharma answered many interested questions about Uma. “This led me to believe that the public are looking forward to the film,” she says.
“We’re hoping that it will cross all the boundaries of mass and class. There’s no reason for people to not relate to the film,” states Choden.
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