I am just basically following a music video being made

Kathmandu :

After Bheda ko oon jasto, Kiran Krishna Shrestha is ready with yet another documentary Sa Karnali that is going to be screened on October 4 in the Capital for a select audience.

Sa Karnali is a film on the making of the music video of Nepathya number Sa Karnali which is picturised on Nepathya frontman Amrit Gurung, and the unforgettable Thinle from Caravan.

Talking about the making of this documentary, Shrestha says, “It was just made. I have this habit of carrying my camera and filming what I see. So, when we returned from the music video shoot, I saw a storyline and the rest just happened.”

But unlike the music video with two main characters, there is another protagonist in the documentary — the music video’s director himself — Bhusan Dahal.

“Bhusan, Amrit and Thinle are my protagonists. The storyline, which is simple, supports Bhusan as one of the main characters. And the simple fact about my documentary is that I am just basically following a music video being made,” says Shrestha.

Having observed that documentaries usually deal with a strong issue and are made for the “sub-title group” meaning foreigners who don’t understand the language in which the film is made, Shrestha says his film is targeted at the local audience who will not only identify with the film but will also get to enjoy it a lot. “And who knows it might even go on to make a global impact like Bheda ko oon jasto did.”

He adds that film is non-intimate and does not deal with any issue, simply follows the music video. However, the film has touched upon some major problems that the folks from the Karnali region face as voiced by Thinle during his interview with Dahal.

The documentary not only showcases the beauty of the Fuksundo lake and the natural beauty of the upper reaches of the country, it also gives us glimpses of the war trenches, the armed security personnel and the gleam of curiosity in people’s eyes as they turn out in throngs to watch a film being shot or the woman who had walked hours just to be able to see a plane land and then fly again.

Thinle is street-smart and innocent at the same time. His straightforwardness, that Shrestha has captured so well, will not fail to amuse audiences.

Is Shrestha satisfied with this documentary? “To live up to the reputation of Bheda ko oon jasto will always remain a challenge. What I am satisfied with is that I have made my second film,” he says.

Anything learned, anything gained? “I never learn from anything,” says Shrestha. “However, I’ve found my filming style. I haven’t used tripods or anything, but have realised that this is how best I can film. And that spontaneity is the essence that adds to my filmmaking.”

What’s interesting about the film is the way the different people involved in the making of the documentary address Thinle: Shrestha and Dahal call him Thinle Dai (Big brother), Gurung addresses him as Thinle Kaka (Uncle), while another calls him Thinle Uncle.

“Everyone will ride their horses with speed, but Thinle Uncle has to come first. Remember no one is to overtake Thinle Uncle. He has to come first.”

That’s the instruction shouted over the bullhorn.

And, of course, Thinle Uncle does come first.