"The storyline is simple yet carries a strong message rightly staged in the backdrop of present urban Nepali society that sees no easier option to earn money than going abroad"

Out of some five films made annually in Nepal Bhasha (Newari), almost none get a mainstream theatre release with an exception of a negligible one or two which are luckily produced by the theatre owners themselves. In such a limited industry, with a dwindling proportion of the language's patrons, making a Nepal Bhasha movie is nothing less than a fanatic's challenge and a market risk. However, Manish Kumar Shrestha's comeback vehicle after a hiatus, Tuyumati is a clutter-breaker if not path-breaking cinema. Moreover, as it comes from a soul-searching artist after decades of tumultuous diaspora life, Manish deserves brownie points.

Given the fact that only a few rows of seat get occupied in London theatres for even the biggest of Bollywood flicks, Tuyumati's premiere show witnessing a half of the UK screening hall full on January 31 can be attributed to an already existing network of Newars in London. Pasa Puchah Guthi organising this first ever Nepal Bhasha movie premiere in the UK is in itself a history thus made.

First thing first – Tuyumati is old school cinema. Studded with yesteryear's stars of a regional cinema, men and women in their 40s laugh, cry, dance and keep appearing in the screen as if  cards accumulate in a game of marriage that has taken too long for a 'show'. When most familiar faces from Nepal Bhasha movies, right from “Rajamati” to “Timila”, keep joining the bandwagon, there comes a time when it makes you ask, “Has anyone been missed out from the history of Nepal Bhasha cinema?” However, it does make it all exciting to see all these finest actors sharing the same screen almost like a lavish platter of bhwoye -- Newar feast.

The storyline is simple yet carries a strong message rightly staged in the backdrop of present urban Nepali society that sees no easier option to earn money than going abroad.

Writer-director Aaryem Nakami's experience with dozens of comedy outings in his early career is best utilised here in telling an otherwise hardcore melodrama with generous dose of humour that comes as a saviour. While we have seen Nakami repeating his little jokes in many of his past movies, Tuyumati is more fresh and a comparatively an unexplored territory, at least thematically. Nakami's shifting interest to ethnic story-telling in more recent years is what lends Tuyumati its artistic touch. This, together with the film's technical finesse, which can be rated above any average Nepali movie, makes the two hours fifteen minutes extremely watchable.

Besides trying hard to be a cultural extravaganza revolving around heritage sites and traditional settlements with an ethno-musical complement, Tuyumati shines partly due to flawless acting by who can be very well considered seasoned actors by now.

Even after coming back to films after decades, Manish chooses a female title  -- Tuyumati which means lady with clean thoughts -- which proves that it was never meant to be a one-man show, which gets materialised by the female leads sharing equal amount of screen space with that of Manish's.

Manish is superb in drama and comedy, believable in action but poor in romance. Arneshwori Shilpakar is top-notch as his wife and they both carry the film on their shoulders. Manish's English love played by Marta simply cakewalks in her brief but crucial role. Then there is this plethora of casts who keep the ongoings interesting with their comic timing. Rajaram Poudel, Hridaya Prasad Mishra and Sabin Shakya stand out while Sushil Prajapati is passable. Dhiren Shakya, Rajendra Khadgi and Hisila Maharjan are limited to special appearances. Ganesh Ram Lachhi is wasted lacking a meaty role.

Distinctly divided into two hours, Tuyumati's first half is filmed in Nepal and then in the UK. While the Nepal portion is high in aesthetic quality, the same is clearly missing in the UK half which looks rushed mainly due to poor lighting.

Even with a tight script which keeps one glued to one's seat, its main drawback is its far stretched first half. Taking exactly an hour to convince Manish to fly to the UK, the lead couple is seen easily spending ten minutes chatting in their field. Sorry, today's audience is far too clever and this sluggishness can easily leave them impatient. Post interval, the movie does change gears to the 21st century cinema. Yes, much of the story unfolds in the second half; before which, the endless jigsaw of comic characters just prevent the story from progressing satisfactorily albeit maintaining a mass appeal bringing the house down too frequently with laughter.

Tuyumati reaches an all time high at around 01:08 with Manish's close-up where he brilliantly displays a man's realisation of his life's changing needs, quite artistically depicted with his deciding to replace his regular hookah with a belayeti cigarette, a clear genius in writing!

The movie's emotional quotient then reaches another level with Arneshwori running tearfully to her fields, making it a worthy climax of leaving the viewers overwhelmed.

While the legendary actor-singer Madan Krishna Shrestha does a memorable cameo in Basantapur, breaking out with byaachuli-based traditional song in the beginning and again at around 01:25, his being heard by the lead couple from their farmlands based in Thimi, as evident from the brick factory's chimneys in the background, is not so believable practically. This song acts as the heart of the movie and is nicely arranged and executed whereas the romantic number filmed in London is disappointingly a reminiscent of yesteryear's Newah pop music which should have been a more upbeat and trendy number instead.

Background music is adequate, editing is average. More attention to detail was needed in motion graphics to avoid spelling mistakes in opening credits including the film's title.

While Tuyumati will mainly appeal to either elderly audience or the diaspora communities, it can easily find itself a misfit in the growing alternate cinema, experimentation and teen film genres in Nepal. However, it does take Nepal Bhasha film industry to a new height and further heightens expectations from Manish in the days to come.

“What is important in life: money or relationship?”

“Is it worth swapping wealthy lifestyle with our rich cultural heritage?”

“To what extent can one get influenced by social dogmas?”

These are just a few questions Tuyumati asks its viewers with a comedy-coated drama which takes you to a world of simple innocent people with big belayeti dreams.

 Movie title: Tuyumati

Running length: 2 hrs

Director: Aaryem Nakami

Producer: Anu Shrestha

Actors: Manish Shrestha, Arneshwori Shilpakar, Marta, Rajaram Poudel, Hridaya Prasad Mishra, Ganesh Ram Lachhi, Sushil Prajapati, Sabin Shakya.

Professor David Gellner cuts the cake before the premiere show of Nepal Bhasha play Tuyumati in London, on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Photo: Pasa Puchah Guthi

Premiered: 31st January 2016 at Safari Cinema, Harrow, United Kingdom

(Sanyukta Shrestha @sanykutashr is a games developer and artist based in London. He writes frequently on Nepali culture.)