From September 26-28, Kathmandu Valley experienced its highest rainfall in fifty-four years, leading to catastrophic floods and landslides. The death toll reached 219, with many missing. Destruction affected homes and infrastructure, prompting rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Organizations like HAMI NEPAL are mobilizing support and donations for affected communities.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara offers stunning views of the Annapurna range and serves as an ideal accommodation for trekkers and triathletes alike. The lodge encourages disconnection from technology, promoting deep conversations and appreciation for nature. Guests enjoy farm-to-table meals and breathtaking scenery, creating a unique and memorable experience in a historic setting.
ASC360 offers essential travel insurance for adventurers in Nepal, covering high-altitude treks like Everest Base Camp and Mera Peak. They provide cashless emergency evacuations, medical coverage for altitude sickness, and local partnerships for effective rescue operations. Their plans prioritize rapid claims, ensuring safety and confidence in rugged terrains.
Bhutan, known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," captivates visitors with its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and hospitality. A trip from Nepal offers stunning Himalayan views and a unique blend of tradition and modernity in cities like Thimphu and Punakha. Hiking to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery is a must, alongside experiencing Bhutan’s vibrant nightlife and delectable cuisine, making it a memorable destination.
The author's recent two-week trek to Mera Peak, guided by Thamserku, was both challenging and rewarding. Despite the relentless rain and tough climbs, the journey offered stunning views and warm hospitality from local tea houses. The summit at 6,474m was exhilarating yet exhausting, culminating in a helicopter ride back to Lukla for a celebratory day.
The Five Films for Freedom event in Kathmandu showcased LGBTQIA+ stories through selected short films, including Dragfox and ARKESTA. Curated by the host, the event featured discussions with speakers about storytelling and representation. The turnout of over a hundred attendees highlighted the need for greater visibility and creation of queer cinema in Nepal.
LOUD OUT 2025, the UK’s premier Nepali music festival, returns to Rushmoor Arena on August 30. From 1 PM to 10 PM, expect a vibrant celebration featuring top Nepali artists like Bipul Chettri and Sabin Rai. Enjoy street food, beer, and community atmosphere. Tickets are limited; secure yours now!
The audio streaming platform SPOTIFY only launched in Nepal in February 2021 but listeners have been busy! Spotify exclusively shared that "Nepal has listened...
The Sustainable Startup and Entrepreneurship Conference 2025, organized by MIT Group Foundation and UNDO, focused on diaspora investments in Nepal's sustainable economy. Key discussions highlighted the need for skill development and mentoring within Nepal. The Future Roots Award recognized innovative startups, underscoring the potential for further diaspora collaboration in fostering economic growth.
Over 60% of Nepal's terrain is hilly, increasing landslide risks. The Pratibaddha II initiative aims to strengthen disaster response by utilizing bio-engineering strategies for slope stabilization while fostering community collaboration. My visit to Lamche Dhunga highlighted successful local efforts, supportive technology, and ongoing projects addressing natural disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Dr. Chitra Mabo's MUKKUMLUNG recently concluded its nineteen-day performance at Shilpee Theatre, showcasing the Kirati people's traditions through a community-driven narrative. The play highlights the conflict between indigenous preservation and commercial development, urging a recognition of the cultural significance of sacred sites like Mukkumlung. Development must respect indigenous connections to the land.
From September 26-28, Kathmandu Valley experienced its highest rainfall in fifty-four years, leading to catastrophic floods and landslides. The death toll reached 219, with many missing. Destruction affected homes and infrastructure, prompting rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Organizations like HAMI NEPAL are mobilizing support and donations for affected communities.
From September 26-28, Kathmandu Valley experienced its highest rainfall in fifty-four years, leading to catastrophic floods and landslides. The death toll reached 219, with many missing. Destruction affected homes and infrastructure, prompting rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Organizations like HAMI NEPAL are mobilizing support and donations for affected communities.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara offers stunning views of the Annapurna range and serves as an ideal accommodation for trekkers and triathletes alike. The lodge encourages disconnection from technology, promoting deep conversations and appreciation for nature. Guests enjoy farm-to-table meals and breathtaking scenery, creating a unique and memorable experience in a historic setting.
ASC360 offers essential travel insurance for adventurers in Nepal, covering high-altitude treks like Everest Base Camp and Mera Peak. They provide cashless emergency evacuations, medical coverage for altitude sickness, and local partnerships for effective rescue operations. Their plans prioritize rapid claims, ensuring safety and confidence in rugged terrains.
Bhutan, known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," captivates visitors with its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and hospitality. A trip from Nepal offers stunning Himalayan views and a unique blend of tradition and modernity in cities like Thimphu and Punakha. Hiking to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery is a must, alongside experiencing Bhutan’s vibrant nightlife and delectable cuisine, making it a memorable destination.
The author's recent two-week trek to Mera Peak, guided by Thamserku, was both challenging and rewarding. Despite the relentless rain and tough climbs, the journey offered stunning views and warm hospitality from local tea houses. The summit at 6,474m was exhilarating yet exhausting, culminating in a helicopter ride back to Lukla for a celebratory day.
The trek to Tilicho Lake through Manang Village offers stunning landscapes, challenging terrains, and memorable experiences. Starting in Kathmandu, the journey includes scenic drives, acclimatization treks, and visits to Chingdi Lake and Green Lake. The completion of the trek is rewarding, culminating in a return to Kathmandu after a fulfilling adventure.
The Five Films for Freedom event in Kathmandu showcased LGBTQIA+ stories through selected short films, including Dragfox and ARKESTA. Curated by the host, the event featured discussions with speakers about storytelling and representation. The turnout of over a hundred attendees highlighted the need for greater visibility and creation of queer cinema in Nepal.
LOUD OUT 2025, the UK’s premier Nepali music festival, returns to Rushmoor Arena on August 30. From 1 PM to 10 PM, expect a vibrant celebration featuring top Nepali artists like Bipul Chettri and Sabin Rai. Enjoy street food, beer, and community atmosphere. Tickets are limited; secure yours now!
The audio streaming platform SPOTIFY only launched in Nepal in February 2021 but listeners have been busy! Spotify exclusively shared that "Nepal has listened...
The Sustainable Startup and Entrepreneurship Conference 2025, organized by MIT Group Foundation and UNDO, focused on diaspora investments in Nepal's sustainable economy. Key discussions highlighted the need for skill development and mentoring within Nepal. The Future Roots Award recognized innovative startups, underscoring the potential for further diaspora collaboration in fostering economic growth.
Over 60% of Nepal's terrain is hilly, increasing landslide risks. The Pratibaddha II initiative aims to strengthen disaster response by utilizing bio-engineering strategies for slope stabilization while fostering community collaboration. My visit to Lamche Dhunga highlighted successful local efforts, supportive technology, and ongoing projects addressing natural disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Dr. Chitra Mabo's MUKKUMLUNG recently concluded its nineteen-day performance at Shilpee Theatre, showcasing the Kirati people's traditions through a community-driven narrative. The play highlights the conflict between indigenous preservation and commercial development, urging a recognition of the cultural significance of sacred sites like Mukkumlung. Development must respect indigenous connections to the land.
From September 26-28, Kathmandu Valley experienced its highest rainfall in fifty-four years, leading to catastrophic floods and landslides. The death toll reached 219, with many missing. Destruction affected homes and infrastructure, prompting rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Organizations like HAMI NEPAL are mobilizing support and donations for affected communities.
Nearly ONE in THREE detected victims of slavery is a child. (Photo and Caption: Walk Free Foundation)
The recent Global Slavery Index published by the Walk Free Foundation has revealed shocking statistics. The survey states that 45.8 million people are trapped in modern slavery. It is believed that more than 230,000 people in Nepal are living in modern day slavery conditions. Nepal is also ranked 13th out of 167 countries. India tops the list with the highest number of people trapped in some form of modern slavery (18.35 million)Â followed by China (3.39m), Pakistan (2.13m), Bangladesh (1.53m) and Uzbekistan (1.23m).
The people are forced to work in factories, mines and farms, sold for sex, trapped in debt bondage or born into servitude. The Australia based Walk Free Foundation has a long-relationship with Nepal. The establishment of the foundation came after a volunteer experience at an orphanage in Nepal by Grace Forrest, the daughter of Andrew Forrest, an affluent business figure.
We repeatedly read news about Nepali domestic workers being exploited or trafficked to countries and the report also mentions the trafficking of Nepali women into India, putting the figure at approximately 7000 every year. British newspaper THE SUN also broke devastating news of Nepali earthquake survivors being sold as domestic slaves to British families earlier this year.
Over on Facebook, I had recently shared an article from The Guardian about ‘a slave in Scotland‘. Made for quite a read, very saddening.
I’ve hyperlinked the texts if you want to follow on and read more.
We definitely need to do more and the countries (as listed by the survey) that have the power to do more, needs to be urged to do whatever they can on their level. Our government must also act accordingly to ensure that people from Nepal do not end up trapped and trafficked into foreign countries and even in Nepal, there must be stricter punishment for those involved in such modern day slavery practices.
On today’s Throwback Thursday, we have this amazing throwback song which you probably sang non-stop with your friends once upon a time. HARPAL by Aastha Band featuring Naren Limbu and Sudip Gurung burst them into the Nepali pop scene and they quickly became the two hottest boys in the music scene. Not only did they have a following of thousands but those sunglasses and that ‘popstar look’ really kicked off.
The song lives on for so many reasons! Nostalgia! Pop-perfection! It’s still one of those songs that people sing in unison during antakshari or when the slightly older Nepalese boys and girls hang out and jam with their guitar.
Lyrically, what a cheesy sweet song. Now, if only us singletons find someone to sing this to. #BintiChaMeroMayaBujhideu
Enjoy the live performance by Naren and Sudip in London of Harpal.
The new episode of SAMMY ADVENTURES has landed and it will definitely make you want to bike your way to the paradise that is Mustang! Even though I’ve visited up to Jomsom and Kagbeni, watching Samriddhi Rai take us on this journey has definitely made me want to go again. It would’ve been nice if this episode 2 ventured onwards to Upper Mustang (I’ve seen from her social media posts that she has been there). Maybe we might get a video on Upper Mustang? Hmm! We’ll have to wait and see!
Incredible scenery and landscape! What a place! Can’t imagine being on a motor bike for so long though lol.
The trailer of LUKAMARI looks like it’s going to be an entertaining fare with comedy and crime featuring two of the hottest names from Nepali cinema, Saugat Malla and Karma! Karma is also rocking the blonde hair look, I guess it fits with the character he’s playing. Looking like a total “swag bad boy”.
Lukamari which literally translates to ‘hide and seek’ falls in the comedy and crime genre! Looks like there may be a lot of back and forth and chasing around. The film is set to release on June 24 and has been directed by Shree Ram Dahal.
They boys are back!! Here’s the official film teaser of LOOT 2! The super-hit film which released back in 2012 will be followed by the sequel in February 24 (2017). It looks like Saugat Malla is back with a vengeance!
Super excited and looking forward to watching a full theatrical trailer and more soon! It’s also such a long wait though. Ahh! Then again, perfection takes time.
Sometimes you need to listen to a song a couple of times to really like it! That happened with Raspberry Bush‘s Pattern Overcoat. I mean, I liked it the first time but now, having heard it second time through, I feel that the song is really different to a lot of other Nepali songs out there and it’s pretty fresh in that sense.
The Indie band from Biratnagar hope to release Rainbow Travels (EP) in the near future. The EP has been described as relating “to feelings of women in different situations that are often refrained from being expressed”.
You may have caught Monkey Temple’s live performance on HUAWEI NAMASTE TV Show yesterday but if you didn’t then all you need to listen to is their latest release Maya Nai Ho which is being received pretty well by fans and listeners.
The modern rock band have tried something a little different keeping in mind the general everyday Nepali music listeners and I think what they have came out with is brilliant. Really digging this lovey-dovey track.
The critically acclaimed Min Bahadur Bham film KALO POTHI will be released in Nepal on Friday 3rd of June. The film which follows the friendship of Prakash and Kiran won the Best Film Award at Venice International Film Critics’ Week (an independent section) at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.
The director spoke about Kalo Pothi at a press event earlier in May sharing “I’m trying to tell a story of Karnali where I grew up during the Maoist insurgency and the experiences we were subjected to as normal people during that period. I support neither the Maoists nor the State. I don’t like war.â€
Kalo Pothi was filmed in Mugu and is in the Khas language. The two child actors underwent a four-month long training to prepare them for the film.
Kalo Pothi has done incredible in the festival circuit with screenings in over 20 international film festivals and receiving amazing feedback. The film is said to have been made with a budget of NRS 3 crores. The film stars Khadka Raj Nepali, Sukra Raj Rokaya, Jit Bahadur Malla, Hansha Khadka, Benisha Hamal, Nanda Prashad Khatri, Bipin Karki, and Pravin Khatiwada.
The trailer and the song give off a spectacular impression and I am eagerly waiting to see how the film will be received by the home audience. The film team are currently busy with promotions in various colleges and schools in Kathmandu. It would be lovely for Min Bahadur to take the film to Mugu and screen it there as well (maybe he has planned for it already). I hope to see it someday in the future. Looking forward to it.
SYNOPSIS: Year 2001, a temporary ceasefire brings much-needed break to a small war-torn village in Northern Nepal, bringing much joy among the residents. PRAKASH and KIRAN, two young close friends, are also starting to feel the change in the air. Though they are divided by caste and social creed, they remain inseparable, and start raising a hen gifted by Prakash’s sister, with hopes to save money by selling her eggs. However, the hen goes missing. To find it, they embark on a journey, innocently unaware of the tyranny brought by the fragile ceasefire.
There seems to be a controversy in the Nepali webosphere every other week which makes this podcast a perfect fit for you to listen to. Boju & Bajai kick start their first episode talking about Bears and Whores. You want to know the first line? “Malvika Ji, Suhaag raat ko sex ko pani photo upload garnu na”.
The podcast is quite an entertainer and no, it doesn’t just talk about what’s happening on Facebook and Twitter but important things such as cyber bullying, critical discussions on the internet, how women continue to be viewed or labelled and they also provide a lovely analysis and facts and figures found from what I can only assume to be wider reading. Quite perfect for you to go on a Google-spree afterwards. It’s honest and quite refreshing especially at a time when one has to be super-careful and considerate about sharing their views.
The ladies have asked; what is a male equivalent to the term ‘bhalu’? I could only think of ‘boka’… and is it “rando” or “randa”. I always thought it was “randa” for a guy.
Wrapping this blogpost up!
PS. Looking forward to hearing Episode 2! And about online trolls and hate; I believe it’s also there for individuals who are different by ‘normal standards’.
Dhangadhi is a step closer to becoming the city of cricket after it recently revealed the design of the proposed international cricket stadium. Fapla International Cricket Stadium Construction Campaign convener Subash Shahi has urged for people from all over to share their advice and cooperate with the project to make it successful. If you want to read more about the financial and funding side of the project then this article (in Nepali) might be more useful for you – click here.
My first question was, what is FAPLA and the answer is “its the name of the locality”.
The cricket stadium which will be built under a public-private partnership is expected to put Dhangadhi on the map and attract many international-scale cricketing events in the far-western region.
I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to the creator of the designs/stadium but some of my questions/advice/recommendation is around:
What are the sustainable practices that will be in use during the construction process and of the overall building design? Are there more sustainable materials for the buildings, for the lights, for electricity generation, use of solar panels, water recycling, street lights, waste disposal etc?
From the image, I can only see one block of toilets and I am sure there will be more than 1 block since this stadium is expected to have 40,000 people; however I would like to add that toilet and sink facilities must be available and in large numbers for public venues of such large size.
Lifespan and longevity is very important – at times we have seen large-scale infrastructure development to quickly lose public interest and suddenly be called a ‘loss making venture’, for that to not happen, the committee needs to make sure that the cricket stadium holds a strong sense of purpose and is utilized through various means and is able to continue bringing in revenue as well as providing employment for those in Fapla and Dhangadhi. Plans, must be realistic.
Is there required infrastructure around the proposed cricket stadium? For 40,000 thousand people to access the stadium, the location must be well connected by roads and local transport networks/links. Likewise, a quick access roads to the major highways/airports and towns/city is a priority.
I am not sure what will be underneath the seats of the stadium and the design team may have already thought about it but the space below the seats can be used for players changing rooms, press/media rooms, cafeteria for public and additional toilets could be located there. Basically maximise the space use.
Anyways’ those are just things floating around in my head. Do you guys have any questions or advice about the proposed international cricket stadium? It is indeed an exciting development! Then again, kuro ta tehi ho, kahile bannine ho’ tyo chahi hernu baki nai huncha. It would be nice if such a stadium of that scale is constructed in Dhangadhi as Dhangadi is a lovely place and I definitely believe that a lot of such developments and projects need to take place outside of Kathmandu.
Last words; sustainable design matters, go green wherever possible, design for the future (a design that supports itself).
Samriddhi Rai’s first episode from her new travel youtube series SAMMY ADVENTURES is finally here! The bubbly beauty queen is in the middle of a huge controversy right now and I definitely would not like to go there but where I do want to go is – CHITLANG and KULEKHANI thanks to the first episode Chasing The Chitlang Cheese.
I must say, the first episode is brilliant! SAMMY ADVENTURES not only showcases places and people but is also decked with information and commentaries that make it entertaining to the right amount. It also looks like Samriddhi has been able to get the support of quite a few names/brands as you can see strategic product placement here and there. Great job!
Can’t wait for the upcoming videos! It looks like it will just get better and better!
PS. I didn’t know you could swim in Kulekhani. Looks laaavvely!
The Bistarai Bistarai singer Rohit John Chettri arrived in London on Wednesday evening for a special performance on Sunday May 29th. Rohit will be playing at the Gurkha Cup After Party event at The Empire in Aldershot. The evening is set to start at 7PM and will be followed by an after-party till 3AM. Opening the show for Rohit John will be Aawaz Band, Daju Bhai Inc and Nitika Magar, Nepali talents from the UK.
The concert/party is presented by The Signature and D&G Entertainment and is only for those aged 18 and above. Our very own DJ Bickey will be spinning the beats for the night.
If you’ve ever sat there on Instagram or Facebook and wanted to wear the stunning dresses worn by stars such as Priyanka Karki, Shristi Shrestha and Aastha Pokharel then you don’t have to look any further. Since its establishment in 2015, WAIBA & COhave been gathering the best Nepalese fashion trends and exclusive wears from well-known designers in the country and making it available for people to purchase in Nepal and worldwide.
With over 100 labels on the website ranging from USD $10-$900, WAIBA & CO are becoming the go-to destination for designer wears by Nepal’s best. The company which operates from Australia will also be launching their own luxury bodywear brand “14 Fevrier” very soon. The online store attracts shoppers from all over the world with Nepal, Hong Kong, Australia, UK, USA and India being just some of the countries. Shoppers from Nepal can pay via bank-deposit or transfer whilst PayPal and direct card payment is available to those worldwide.
Some of the designers found on WAIBA & CO include Yubi Thapa, Swornim’s Studio, Antee Gurung, Mishus, Mimz, Teyang, Dulla Shoes, Vishal Kapoor (VK), Marcia Adhikari Accessories, Aamo by Aayusha Shrestha, Rakshya Shahi, Yachna Rizal, MP Nepal with few more designers to join very soon.
For young people and young adults living in the UK, an opportunity to grab more qualification has come about. If you are looking for an additional qualification then this apprenticeship course might interest you! The BTEC Level 3 ICT apprenticeship class will run across the UK, targeted at 16-18 and 19-23 year old. The best part of the apprenticeship course is that you will also be paid too. 16-18 years will receive £400 per month and 19-23 years will received £200 per month, however one of the requirements that you must meet is that you have to be in employment (it can be full-time/part-time, in ANY type of jobs for a small company).
They only have a 2/3 weeks to enrol you on this course, so if this has caught your attention then do hurry up and contact Kamal Gurung (Course Runner) on 07869755226.
GAIDA Entertainment UK will be screening the recently released film JUNGE at the Safari Cinema in Harrow on 28th of May and 5th of June at the Empire Hall in Aldershot. The film which stars Suraj Singh Thakuri in the lead is a modern adaptation of the life of Nepal’s former prime minister Jung Bahadur Rana. Parts of the historic political drama has been filmed in Birgunj, a city along the Nepal-India border.
GAIDA Entertainment UK will also be selling tickets at the Gurkha Cup on May 29th. They will also be sponsoring tickets for the film to the winners of the tournament on Sunday.
JUNGE was released in Nepal on April 29th and stars Suraj Singh Thakuri, Reecha Sharma, Sikha Shahi, Anup Baral, Sushil Raj Pandey, Joes Pandey, Pradeep Dhakal, Naresh Poudel, Sushank Mainali, Najir Hussain, M.S. Agraj, Kevin Karki, Dhrishya Subedi & more.
The plot of the film as written on its Facebook page reads:
Junge is a modern day adaptation of the life of Junga Bahadur Rana, the first Rana Prime minister of Nepal, who laid down the foundation of the two hundred years old Rana Regime. It’s a political thriller based on Historical events set around the Nepal-India Borders. It’s a story of Courage, Ambition and Determination. Many a war has been fought in the past for power and supremacy and some still goes on; Junge is a story of one such war.
Bipul Chettri is a rare musician who’s music has remained the focus of his artistry. He may have millions of listeners all over the world and be a household name but what the singer didn’t have until recently was a music video! It was definitely worth the wait though. Bipul Chettri shared his first ever music video for Wildfire/Dadhelo on the 21st of May and I am in awe of the talent and effort that has gone into making this video.
The singer has collaborated with Polka Studios who really have outdone themselves with their work. Before the release of the video, the Wildfire singer shared that the artist Asis Rai (Polka Studios) “worked tirelessly for 18 months to hand draw approximately 6000 pages singlehandedly”.
The three and half minute long video is an inspiring journey of the singer from the boy he was to the man he is now. I am sure the video will relate to the stories of many creators at home/in their rooms, working hard with passion and soul to create art and learning to fly. My favourite part of the video has to be at 1:24 when he steps out of the house; very symbolic.
Incredible work by Polka Studios with the video and the song sounds as beautiful as the first day I heard it. May Bipul Chettri and The Travelling Band continue to create many more music that will go on to live for years to come.
Since being crowned the Miss Nepal in 2012, Shristi Shrestha has had quite a ride to where she is now. Even before her Miss Nepal stint, Shristi who was based in London was already familiar with the world of fashion as she had appeared in many fashion shoots and even a non-Nepali music video. Her title as a Miss Nepal gave the Narayanghat born a bigger platform; a world stage where she became one of the more successful Miss Nepal contestants at Miss World with a placement in the TOP 20 for Miss World and Top 10 for Beach Beauty.
Fast forward to 2016, Shristi has plenty of modelling experiences in UK, Nepal and India under her belt, an Indian music video, couple of Nepali music videos, training from a renowned theatre school in Kathmandu and the role of Ophelia in HAMLET (in Nepali) and Sujata Shakya in the upcoming film GAJALU.
Miss Shrestha is back in the UK for HAMLET which will be playing at the Southbank Centre on May 27 and 28 and the world premiere of her debut film GAJALU in Aldershot on May 29.
I managed to have a quick chat Shristi about HAMLET and GAJALU; enjoy the read.
Photo: Mahesh Pradhan
LEX: So getting straight to the point, I only have a few questions to ask mainly because I feel that you have spoken about GAJALU with the press a lot in the past few weeks. How easy or difficult was it for you as a new actor to deliver the emotional scenes in GAJALU?
SHRISTI: The first week of filming was actually all the emotional scenes which consisted a lot of familial conflict, personal journey of the character that I play, Sujata Shakya so it was pretty surreal and at times challenging to be doing that continuously. Sometimes it did get to me and I would carry those feelings and emotions home and that did put me in a gloomy mood.
Thankfully, my training from my acting classes really supported during such scenes and even more was through personal reflection from my life. The journey to bring real emotions to the reel screen was a profound one.
There were similarities between Sujata and my past as I felt I could draw from my past experiences especially when I was new in the UK and I lacked self-esteem and confidence. I was a shy teenager who had faced bullying in Nepal and to come and fit into the UK was daunting and at times made me very nervous. Some of my own experiences were very similar to that of Sujata’s in GAJALU.
LEX: The Nepali production of HAMLET has grabbed the attention of many for all the right reasons. With so much praise and good things being said, how does it feel to be part of such a production and to be part of theatre in Nepal?
SHRISTI: I have been very fortunate to be able to play the character of Ophelia and be part of the whole production. From our first show at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square to our recent run at the Theatre Village, it has been a beautiful experience shared with very gifted veterans from theatre in Nepal. I cannot be more grateful to be playing Ophelia and working alongside such wonderful welcoming and supportive team members. The HAMLET teams support has not only made the character come to life but also helped me in developing myself to really get into the skin of Ophelia and become a better actor.
Theatre is a complete different experience to films. It is a very intimate and powerful way to connect to the audience and communicate the story. With the people involved in theatre, a lot of their actions is carried forward purely by passion and soul hence the journey and the whole process can be very spiritual and beautiful.
Shristi in Gorkha at her mamaghar
LEX: With you being back in the UK for Hamlet and Gajalu, this is almost like a mini-homecoming. How does it feel to be permanently based in Nepal, do you miss the UK a lot when you’re living in Kathmandu?
SHRISTI: Definitely! I miss my family a lot and home is definitely where the family is. Though I owe a huge part of me and my personality to my upbringing in Chitwan and Dang, I also owe a lot to my years that I spent in the UK. If I hadn’t lived in the UK, I probably wouldn’t have so much desire to do something for Nepal or have Nepal always on my mind… maybe it’s because of growing up abroad I spent more time on thinking about Nepal and visiting whenever during my holidays.
From early on, I have varied and fond memories of growing up in a small village in Gorkha and the small town of Lamahi to moving to bigger towns and eventually back to Narayanghat. From studying in public government schools to moving to boarding schools and then coming to the UK, life has already been quite a journey. I chose to return and be based in Nepal, it is where I see myself for now and I am content with all that has been happening lately.
LEX: Even before Miss Nepal, you’ve had quite a following and now after Miss Nepal and your work in fashion, videos and films; there’s an even larger collective of people who know Shristi Shrestha. Unsurprisingly, there are also many people who invest time in writing negative things about ‘Shristi Shrestha’. Do you have anything to say about that or how do you react to such negativity?
SHRISTI: Honestly, I feel like I have developed a barrier against such comments and it really doesn’t phase me. It’s so normal to me now that there’s no shock value there.
It also does show how sexist society is as women continue to be targeted and subjected to such unnecessary name-calling. You really do not see that level of distasteful comments on male actors. Social media at times gives people a sense of power where they feel they can write anything such as calling somebody a ‘whore’ but they would never dare to say such a thing to the persons face.
I can only hope we as people respect each other, each other’s struggles, stories and differences.
LEX: On a lighter note! Let’s talk films. Tell us about a film that you recently watched and a film that you would have liked to be part of, your ideal role and who you would pick to star in a chick-flick with?
SHRISTI: Well the most recent film that I saw was Dying Candle. Kathaa is a film that I would have liked to be part of. The character played by Usha Rajak in the film is one I would’ve liked to play. In some ways, similar to that… my ideal role would be something character heavy yet adventurous… a survival story based on a homegrown story would be a good challenge. I’d be up for that.
For a chick flick! I think it would have to be Priyanka didi because she’s very lively and exudes a very youthful personality. Likewise, I enjoy Keki didi’s work too. In the films that I’ve watched I’ve seen that she’s an actor who gives a lot of attention to detail. It would be equally enjoyable to be in a chick-flick with her.
Catch the UK first, screening of GAJALU on Sunday May 29th at the EMPIRE in Aldershot.Â
While we wait for Ayushman’s debut film CHAPALI HEIGHT 2 to release and hopefully entertain, thrill and excite us; here’s a cover of the popular song Basanta by JPT Rockerz covered by Ayushman. I know that the last song I shared which was a cover by Ayushman and Priyanka was received with an overwhelming number of negative response, I hope this video brings in more positive views because this guy has a wonderful voice. This song is very much suited for his voice. Super glad that he shared this cover on YouTube!
We’ll have to wait and see how his acting is and let’s not put too much pressure too as this is probably his first film. Je bhaye ni, I am sure Ayushman and his brother Aashirman (who will be making a debut with Gangster Blues) will shake up the Nepali film scene with their looks, following and persona!
A recent study by the Department of Forest Research and Survey and the National Forest Products Survey Project suggests that forest cover in Nepal has increased to 44.74% from 39.6%. The new survey was conducted between 2067 and 2071 BS whereas the previous one was done between 1987 to 1998 according to news report published on The Himalayan Times.
Unfortunately, there have been an alarming level of forest fires reported across the country in the past few months. It is believed that up to 350,000 hectares of forest has been burnt down in forest fires this year.
Promising results as well as major concerns ahead… It is saddening to know that many communities and lives were affected by the recent forest fires. I hope people from the community level with the support from the state bodies are better equipped to tackle the forest fires in the coming days and in the near year time period.
Even though it has been a few days since the AmarPanchhi event, I still can’t get over how dope Rekha Thapa‘s performance was. Her entry to Beyonce’s Girls (Run The World) beat was pretty spectacular and the way she owned that gun and wielded it here and there like she’s the biggest boss of Nepali showbiz (to be fair, she is the biggest boss in da industry) basically slayed the entire performance.
Let’s also talk about how she has so many amazing filmy hits. But Slowly Slowly, Simple Simple Kanchi, Timilai Kunai Pal, We Want Freedom; those songs definitely does the trick! I still can’t cope with the Simple Simple Kanchi Remix with Turn Down For What… like what… how… I can’t. Oh and the dialogues in-between – o my gaddd, with a social message might I add, what a QUEEN!
I know a lot of people might say, Nepal ko top heroine bhayera ni kasto motto bhayeko etc etc. But come on, she’s Rekha Thapa… she’s made it big being who she is, the way she is and how she is. Her films draw thousands to the cinemas and she’s one of the few people in Nepal who has that ‘star’ power.
May you continue being the boss lady that you are and being so entertaining you Queen, Princess, Warrior, Hero, Actress; Rekha Thapa.
