On Wednesday, the Berlin Film Festival announced the Nepali film’s selection alongside 34 productions from 33 countries to be screened as its world premieres.[break]
At a time when Nepal’s film industry insiders are holding talks on declaring the present situation as “sankatkaal” (an emergency period) owing to the terrible state of the industry, Highway has generated new hopes.
The latest addition to the good news is that the film will not only be a participant in the Panorama Category of the Berlin Festival but it has also been selected to compete among the six fictional films in the directorial debuts competition.
Rauniyar, who is currently in America, took time to join Republica for an online conversation. Excerpts:
Share with us your background. Did you always want to make films?
I was born in the eastern lowland of Nepal in Badgama, Saptari, but raised in Thoksila of Udaypur due to my father’s employment. I relished my childhood experiences for I was able to get acquainted with a completely different culture of the eastern hills.
As for my experience with cinema, I was 13 when I first entered a theatre. I knew ever since that I had make films.
How was the transition from shorts to feature lengthy movie?
When I first assisted Tsering Rhitar Sherpa for his feature film “Karma” in 2005, I was working as an arts editor for a national daily. Back then, I received furious calls from filmmakers for commenting on their films. These conversations often ended with them challenging me to make films myself. My first and second attempt at making films on original subjects were the shorts “Chaukaith” (Threshold) and “Pooja.” These films earned me some success, encouraging me further.
What made you choose the topic of “Highway”?
In 2009, I was on a road trip to Kathmandu. The bus I boarded was obstructed by three colossal roadblocks, organized by three different groups in three different parts of the country. This incident instigated Kedar Sharma, Khagendra Lamichhane and me to work on this film. I felt that by setting a story against the backdrop of this absurdity and disarray, I would not only be able to explore a volatile and dangerous physical situation but also explore the psychological and spiritual banda that many Nepali people seem to be enduring to these days.
Tell us about the “Kickstarter” Campaign for “Highway.” It raised more than US$33,000 in under two months.
The Kickstarter Campaign was extremely successful. We wouldn’t have finished the film if we hadn’t received that money. And now you can see that as soon as we finished the film, we received the opportunity for the film to be premiered in Berlin.
What in your opinion is that one thing that got Highway recognized for such a reputed fest?
The film is unique. It’s original and organic and made with a micro budget. Contrary to the traditional methods, I didn’t give actors written dialogue, they improvised their lines on the set while doing a scene, and I gave them a total artistic freedom of self-expression. Also, I made sure not to dictate an actor’s creative approach to his character by camera movements. I would instead describe the scene, its importance and emphasis, how it would begin and end, and then asked them to improvise the rest.
What are your observation in terms of Nepali film industry? What sector do you believe needs immediate changes?
I don’t think we should look back. Rather it’s time to see the positive changes. The future now seems bright. “Acharya” by Prasant Rasaili and Nischal Basnet’s “Loot” are receiving positive reviews, and “Highway” got to Berlin. Abinash Bikram Shah’s “Ma Khushi Chhu” was premiered at the Busan International Film Festival earlier in 2011. Nabin Subba’s “Goodbye Kathmandu,” Subarna Thapa’s “Snow Flowers,” and Prachanda Shrestha’s “Visa Girl” are yet to come! I believe we’re absolutely on the right track! 2012 has already become memorable for us.
Will we see Deepak Rauniyar making entertaining commercial films with dances, songs and fight sequences?
One thing is for sure: I wouldn’t be bound to a certain genre of filmmaking. However, I’m against the belief that singing, dancing and action scenes provide entertainment. I wouldn’t make a film that doesn’t make sense. I like exploring or exposing something that challenges society, especially if that story creates an opportunity to generate questions and debates.
Synopsis of Highway
Set among the breathtaking landscapes of eastern Nepal, “Highway” is the first full-length feature film from director/producer Deepak Rauniyar.
The film narrates the journey of nine characters whose individual stories become accidentally interconnected during an ill-fated bus journey they take to the capital, Kathmandu.
The passengers – each of whom urgently needs to be somewhere else – find themselves stranded on the only main road due to an improvised and unlawful blockade known as a “banda” in Nepal.
While the journey is thwarted numerous times, awaiting a resolution to the combustible strike, the film’s story shifts into the characters’ own respective psychological and spiritual “bandas” that many Nepalis are still contending with even after the end of the bloody 12-year civil war in Nepal.
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