KATHMANDU: Nepal's first animated feature film "Shankhadhar Ko Kathaa" (The Legend of Shankhadhar) was screened in London on October 31.

A private viewing of "The Legend of Shankhadahar" was screened among Nepali diaspora audience in Greenford Town Hall, London, on the auspicious occasion of the New Year of Nepal Samvat 1137.

Developed in the backdrop of ancient Nepal of around 1,100 years ago, the movie is a biopic of Nepal's national hero Sankhadhar Saakhwa and how he started the Nepal Samvat (Era), its director Sanyukta Shrestha informed.

Based on the social relations between the historic cities of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, the movie also makes a comparison of the ancient with with the present-day Kathmandu, which was hit by the devastating 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

The movie used traditional Nepali style of art and storytelling in order to showcase Nepali culture and heritage.

The movie will have its grand premiere on 11th December 2016 in the UK by the Pasa Puchah Guthi UK, and in the USA by the Newah Organisation of America, according to Shrestha.

Similarly, it will be released by an NGO, Gwahali, on December 17, in Nepal.

Made under the banner of Yantrakala Studios, Sanyukta Shrestha is the writer, director and producer of the movie.

Veteran artists from Nepali cine industry Madan Krishna Shrestha, Madan Das Shrestha, Kiran KC and Rajaram Paudel among others have lent their voices in the production.