Bhetwal, 26, wants to make films that make people question their existence. And the Nepali film he's currently watched and enjoyed is 'Suntali'. He says, "It has a simple storyline. The setting of the film and its visual element, pace, rhythm and sound have made 'Suntali' poetic."How do you see filmmaking?
I approach filmmaking as a medium to express and share my thoughts with the world. One may not be very good with words or may not know how to share what's in their minds. I believe films are useful in times like these. I decided I wanted to make films when I was a high school student. But I joined film school only after a couple of years.
Where did you get the subject line for the film?
I had the story ready before I had to make a film for my graduation project. I based the story on what I saw around me and my own experiences during the civil war. You don't have to be directly involved in the war to be affected by it. My film shows how the war had effects on the common people. 'Euta pariwarle gareko sangharsha chha yasma.'
I'm originally from Nuwakot and we shifted to Manamaiju in Kathmandu during the war. In the film, there's a family where the father isn't at home and it falls on the two sons to take their cow to search for a bull. It's a tradition that a male member of the family does this. I based this on my own experience.
What kinds of responses have you received for your work?
I was satisfied with what I had managed to do, and neither extreme criticism nor praise would've bothered me. My film premiered at 'Eka Deshma' and seeing hundreds of people watching my work was a great feeling. People told me that the film was a subtle presentation of the war.
Is there any particular type of film you want to make?
I haven't exactly decided on that. I'm still understanding films. But I believe that people watch films because they want to live through them. I want my audience to take moments away from my film that they haven't experienced personally.
Based on your experiences so far, what does it take to be a good director?
There has to be honesty when making films. But first of all, you have to be a good human being to be a good director. You need to have an understanding of human emotions and relations, otherwise everything you create will be superficial.
Are you working on anything right now?
I'm actually filming my grandmother. I'm fascinated by her loneliness and her experiences. She's in her eighties. She's seen a lot of things. My grandfather has passed away and she's single now, and at this stage of her life, I want to know what it's like. I feel living without love is difficult. One of the reasons I'm filming her is because it's easier to approach my grandmother with this subject than other people. I'm shooting during the day all by myself because having a large crew would probably not make my grandmother comfortable.
Niranjan's film is currently available at mediawavefestival.hu. The Hungarian Film Festival requests votes. So after watching the film, vote for Niranjan if you liked his work.
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