KATHMANDU, June 29: Stakeholders in the Nepali film industry are advocating for greater social inclusion in the content and characters of Nepali films.

During MediaTalk Series-XXXIV, a bimonthly educational event organized by the Faculty of Journalism at St. Xavier’s College, leading Actor and Singer Prakash Saput, Film Director Manoj Pandit, and Documentary Director Ramyata Limbu emphasized the need for social inclusion in the industry.

Film Director Manoj Pandit highlighted the importance of both the director as a communicator and the audience as a critical analyst. “The difference lies in the audience's perception of the content as opposed to how it is intended to be perceived,” said Pandit.

Pandit, also a member of the Film Development Board Nepal, further stressed that movies should not be profit-centric but should instead depict stories of struggle that impact and engage viewers.

Actor and singer Prakash Saput emphasized that the presentation of stories and content should be realistic, serving as both the voice of the people and a medium of interconnectedness. He noted that while the idea of inclusion has always been present in movies, society has failed to recognize these narratives.

Director of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, Ramyata Limbu, called for self-development and awareness among both society and film directors. “The narratives really depend on the perspective and approach of the director, but they also depend on the audiences since they are the power bearers,” she suggested.

"We're on a journey to educate students with a series of project-based pedagogies," said Chun Bahadur Gurung, the Faculty Coordinator of the MediaTalk series. "Critical discourse on the theme today has helped students understand the progress Nepali cinema has made in raising the voices of the excluded," he added.

"Social exclusion is an easy evil, but social inclusion is a deliberate and noble action. The MediaTalk series made a concerted effort to raise awareness and learn lessons from the film fraternity," said Fr Dr. Augustine Thomas, S.J., the principal of the college.

He stated, "Listening to the experiences and views of notable personalities in this series aimed to broaden students’ perspectives and inspire them to be boundlessly inclusive in their lives."