Kathmandu:

The evening film show organised on June 8 was special for two reasons — one because it was the first screening of Karma, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa’s new production, and the other because it was a charity show to generate funds for the ex-Mussoorie Alumni.

Under the ‘Home Away from Home’ project, 10 students from Tibetan refugee schools in Mussoorie were brought to Kathmandu for a holiday, and this year they plan to double the number. Editor, producer and director Sherpa said, “I have spent my time and energy for three years on this film and the very first screening is being done for a very, very generous cause.”

With a series of successful productions, Sherpa has caught the public’s attention both in national and international arenas with his gift of analysis and philosophical reflection in his new kind of films. But this is not to say Sherpa is unable to entertain. Considering a movie about nuns and life in monastery, one would expect it to be serious, however, it very entertaining without overtly trying to be so.

Karma, an Ani in Mustang monastery, and throughout her journey, the director has addressed a number of social issues like untouchability and girl trafficking through this central character. Karma is portrayed as a playful girl who has a special admiration for Aamir Khan and has his posters pasted in her room, her workplace and even in her prayer book.

Her journey from Mustang to Pokhara to Kathmandu to Bhairahawa in search of the person who has taken money from the monastery, makes her grow into a complete human being. The natural sound used as background gives the film a documentary touch and approach, while the journey itself at times does not seem realistic for an innocent Mustang girl to undertake with such ease.

However, the locales and beauty of the places that the film is shot in, will take away the viewer’s breath.

With this movie, some people may tend to slot Rhitar’s works as spiritual as all his productions have so far explored the religious consciousness of different religions.

The movie does not try to make any pretentious philosophical remarks, but makes a simple revelation of the fact — nuns are considered to have escaped the worldly matters into a paradise of prayer and soul searching, but the moment money runs short, they are disillusioned.