The film, funded by European Commission and produced as part of the Maternal and Child Health Project of the BBC World Service Trust, displays the situation of young mothers in Nepal.[break]
Pooja, the main character played by newcomer Priyansa Singh Thakuri, is the second daughter of her parents. She shares a cold relationship with her mother, and her father, who loves her dearly, cannot change the situation. The film takes a turn after Pooja has a row with her mother and decides to leave home. Her friend Rumy, is acted out by another newcomer Aditya Gurung, gives her refuge and their lives change forever.
Shot at the beautiful locations of Dharan, the dialogues in the film sound very natural. Priyansa as Pooja makes an impressive mark while Aditya often seems to be mincing his words.
Divided into three sections entitled Father, Husband and Mother-in-law, each part is narrated through the particular characters in the film. The climax of the film is disclosed in the beginning which shows the filmmaker’s taste in experimentation.
Mithila Sharma, as Pooja’s mother, does a commendable work while Manoj Gajurel’s role as the police officer is unmemorable. The music in the film, provided by Kutumba is soothing but often resembles sounds coming from the backstage of a theatrical performance. Details, like the inclusion of ice-cream man into Pooja’s life, take away the seriousness from the film’s contents, and make the audience smile. The activities of little Pooja, like donning the shreds of a maize to become her father with a mustache, is shown creatively.
The film, however, often loses itself without proper transitions. Audiences must assume by themselves that Pooja is now married; or that later, her husband has flown away for foreign employment. The ending leaves many questions unanswered, like the reconciliation between Pooja’s husband, mother-in-law, and parents.
Still the film is successful in encompassing the themes of love, marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the risks of childbirth. It subtly reflects, through the life of Pooja, on initiatives that must be taken during pregnancy for the safe delivery of a child.
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