New Delhi:

Even before its official release in Nepal, the much-hyped Kaagbeni was screened here in the Indian capital on October 26 at the week-long ‘South Asian Film Festival... Dissolving Boundaries’.

Kaagbeni is a thriller set in the breathtaking backdrop of Jomsom and Mustang, and the story revolves around love, betrayal and revenge.

Director Bhushan Dahal manages a pulsating thriller with this debut feature film of his. The movie stars theatre artiste Saugat Malla, who has done a commendable job, pop

icon Nima Rumba who is equally convincing in his role, Deeya Maskey, Anup Baral and Asha Magarati, among other actors.

This was the only Nepali film among 45 feature, documentary and short films from eight South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the

Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal at the festival organised by the South Asia Foundation.

Foundation secretary general Rahul Barua said the festival is an attempt to “dissolve boundaries” and bring all the South Asian countries to promote peace and harmony.

Pakistan was the focus country of the festival featuring 14 films.

Director Dahal took the festival purely as an opportunity to share experiences with actors, directors, producers and film makers of South Asia.

“This is a platform for us to see where the Nepali film industry stands among others and where it can reach,” he said.

The festival also screened Bollywood movies like Yaadein, Traffic Signal, Omkara and Blue Umbrella. “We need to learn a lot from Bollywood in terms of marketing and commercial aspects, whose movies are of international content due to its marketing and commerce,” added Dahal.

Shyam Shah, reservation sales manager of Nepal Airlines Corporation in Delhi, who has not watched Nepali films for a long time, said that Kaagbeni might help start a new trend of cinema in Nepal.

Talking about the delay in Kaagbeni’s release in Nepal, producer Nakim Uddin said that it was because they are planning to release the film simultaneously across the country.

“Fourteen cinema halls in Nepal are being upgraded to the digital technology with the assistance of Mumbai-based United Film Organisers Moviez. This technology will help us

release the film simultaneously in 14 cinema halls from Birtamod to Nepalganj, including five in Kathmandu,” he said.