Kathmandu:

Another journalist has ventured beyond what his job requires of him and given us a stark portrayal of life. After over a decade in media, Dil Bhusan Pathak, news coordinator of Kantipur Television, is a familiar face. But, in his new avatar he has gone behind the camera to bring to us life in its real form.

His three documentary films — Newsroom Bahira, Suk Bahadur Adhikari-Class IV and Demons Delight — have been selected with 60 other films from around the world for the Himalayan Film Festival 2005, that will be held in the Netherlands this November.

A premiere of two of Pathak’s documentaries was held at Hotel Dwarikas on September 13.

Newsroom Bahira (Outside the Newsroom) is on the unsafe abortion methods practised in the country’s far western region.

After presenting the news report on Sushila Jaisi of Ramechhap, who died 16 days after getting an abortion by the traditional method, Pathak says he felt he had to do something on it. “I was moved by it and wanted to find out what the traditional method was.”

His quest has given us Newsroom Bahira. Though villagers were not willing to talk with outsiders, he managed to find what the method was with help from social workers in the village. To get rid of the unwanted foetus, a sharp bamboo stick or a hot iron rod is inserted into the womb till the woman starts bleeding. This practice has been going on for ages with many, like Sushila, having lost their lives. This, Pathak said, was not due to lack of proper heal-th services but ignorance.

Suk Bahadur Adhikari-Class IV tells the story of 79-year-old Adhikari of Kaski, who after 50 years of service as a driver in India, comes home and joins a primary school at the ripe age of 79.

Learning to read and write with students his grandchildren’s age, Adhikari is confident that through education he can put his thoughts into words and empower himself with knowledge.

When he is handed a CD of the film, Adhikari says he feels greater than the heroes in the Hindi films.

What more could a filmmaker want? An Oscar, perhaps!

What they had to say:

Dr Sanjiv Upreti on Newsroom Bahira; News media is replete with many similar incidents and we have grown indifferent to such news. However, Pathak has been successful in moving the audience and has been able to leave a strong emotional impact. Any work clicks best when it acts on the emotions and not just the intellect.

Prof Durga Bhandari on Suk Bahadur...Pathak has chosen the right person for his film. Adhikari is a person who is living a fruitful life, rich with experiences and he is a man who knows the art of living.