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Recently released on Netflix, ‘Kuttey’ features an outstanding cast of Bollywood’s best actors and Arjun Kapoor. I was eagerly anticipating the movie’s release on OTT after being captivated by the trailer a few months back. Directed by debutant Aasmaan Bhardwaj, the movie’s unique narrative structure immediately caught my attention. It’s divided into four parts, including an epilogue and three chapters, each with intriguing titles that reveal their significance as the story progresses. The epilogue ‘Laxmi Bomb’ sets the stage for the climax, followed by the chapters ‘Sabka Maalik Ek’, ‘Aata Kya Canada’, and ‘Moong Ki Daal’. The chapter titles contribute to the screenplay’s quirkiness, adding to the movie’s charm. The plot centers around Gopal (played by Arjun Kapoor) and Paaji (played by Kumud Mishra) who are hired to assassinate a politician’s rival. But when a corrupt cop enters the scene and greed takes over, things take a turn for the worse. Amidst this chaos, three groups of strangers collide on a stormy night, all searching for a van carrying millions of cash. The resulting clash between these groups—who fight for their territory like dogs—forms the crux of the movie’s plot. The first half of the movie might seem slow and somewhat aimless but it all comes together in the second half, which is fast-paced and thrilling. The narrative pieces fit together seamlessly, making for an enjoyable viewing experience. While the twist towards the end might be predictable, it adds a much-needed touch of humor to the otherwise dark tale of blood and gore. The humor is still blunt and dark though, which could probably not go down well with a few people. The writers have used known allegories and anecdotes to make sense of what the characters have on their minds. The performances delivered by the lead actors in Kuttey are truly commendable and showcase their versatility as performers. Arjun Kapoor, who has had a mixed bag of performances in his career, finally delivers an earnest portrayal of the trigger-happy Gopal. This is a refreshing change from his previous roles and he manages to carry the film on his shoulders with his intensity and presence. Kumud Mishra is equally impressive in his role as a corrupt cop who takes the law into his own hands. He exudes a rawness and authenticity in each scene, and his actions speak louder than words. It’s evident that he is out of his comfort zone in this role but he manages to portray the character’s shades with finesse. Mishra’s portrayal is a testament to his range as an actor and his ability to breathe life into any character he plays. The camaraderie between the characters is believable and helps to anchor the plot. Additionally, Tabu’s nuanced portrayal of Pammi is so compelling that she steals the show from the other lead actors. Her impeccable comic timing adds a much-needed touch of humor in this otherwise intense movie, providing a break from the tension and giving the audience a chance to catch their breath. It’s clear that Tabu is a force to be reckoned with and her performance in Kuttey leaves no doubt about her talent. This performance makes one eagerly anticipate her big comeback in the industry as her presence on the screen is truly missed. The background music of Kuttey also stands out. Composed by Vishal with lyrics penned by Gulzar, each song is aptly placed in the story and only serves to take the narrative forward. The iconic ‘Dhan Te Nan’ track by Vishal, played throughout the movie, elevates the impact of every important scene. While the movie does have some shortcomings, such as the rushed characterization of Konkona Sen Sharma’s Laxmi and the wasted potential of Naseeruddin Shah’s Khobre, the overall experience is worth watching. Kuttey offers a fresh take on the action-thriller genre and leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Who should watch it? Fans of action-thrillers who enjoy an intriguing narrative structure and strong performances from talented actors should definitely give this movie a try. The movie also features excellent background music and memorable characters, especially Tabu’s portrayal of police officer Pammi. Additionally, those who appreciate unconventional and quirky storytelling will find this film to be a refreshing departure from typical Bollywood fare. However, those who are uncomfortable with violence or gore might want to approach it with caution. Rating: 3.5 stars Genre: Action/Thriller Actors: Arjun Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Tabu Director: Aasmaan Bhardwaj Run time: 1hr 49mins

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative (BRI) has entered its 10th year. On this occasion, China is preparing to hold the third international BRI conference—the first two were held in 2017 and 2019—by inviting world leaders to Beijing. Over the past decade, BRI has generated several debates and controversies, mainly surrounding its investment terms and conditions. China is aware of the BRI’s reputation on international stage, so it is poised to make an amendment to its original plan and rebrand the program as the BRI 2.0, of which little is known about. Nepal became a BRI member in 2017, and China wants to create a positive public opinion on BRI here. While Western countries have tried to sway Nepali leaders and policymakers by highlighting the debt issue of the BRI, Beijing is trying to override this narrative by portraying the program as a force of greater good, of development and prosperity. Critics of BRI say it is a ‘debt trap’ lacking in transparency and that it ‘spoils the investment climate’ and contributes to cross-border corruption. Those in favor meanwhile are of the view that Nepal can exploit immense benefit from the program. These two competing narratives regarding the BRI have paralyzed Nepali leaders. They see it as a tool to bridge the funding gap for infrastructure development as well as a potential debt trap. In essence, they have imprecise and superficial understanding of the program. This could be because of a lack of effective communication between experts and leaders, and also between the governments of Nepal and China. The Pokhara International Airport is a case in point. When Nepal objected to China’s listing of the airport under the BRI, there was no attempt at clarification from the Chinese side. A senior Chinese official says: “Obviously, it is a BRI project and we are firm on it. But if Nepal says it is not under the BRI, that is okay for us too.” This begs the question: What does BRI mean for Nepal? Or, more importantly: Is there a proper understanding in Nepal on BRI? Even after ten years, the Nepal government has not been able to make a concrete view and position on the program. A lot of confusion and ambiguity remains in the academic circle as well as in the government. Chinese officials say there are five pillars of BRI: policy coordination, infrastructure, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and connecting people. But much of its focus in Nepal has been on the infrastructure component. The fact is that China has invested billions in connectivity and energy projects mainly in the Global South, and mega projects have been built in many countries including high-speed railway. Of late, the BRI is gradually shifting towards soft power. Ambar Malik, Chinese development finance expert, told Voice of America in an interview that the BRI is not a single entity, but rather an umbrella under which many entities are delivering projects in many countries across many sectors. “China has now also folded a lot of their cultural initiatives — their educational initiatives, scholarships, Confucius Institute and others — into this big juggernaut of the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said in the interview. Chinese experts are of the view that the BRI faced challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflict and supply chain shocks, which needs to be settled for the coming decade. In Nepal, as the BRI discussions are overly centered on infrastructure projects, it does not offer a full picture of the program. Some experts say discussions focused on infrastructure projects is one reason why the debt trap is finding purchase among the intelligentsia and the public. The ‘debt trap’ argument could be the reason why former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress reportedly told the Chinese side that Nepal cannot take loan under the BRI. The senior Chinese official that ApEx talked with says there are some flaws in Nepal on how to view BRI, which has created a misleading narrative. Over the past few years, China has come up with three new initiatives— Global Security initiative (GSI), Global Development initiative (GDI) and Global Civilizational initiative (GCI)—which Chinese officials say fall under the BRI umbrella. The GDI is being implemented in coordination with the UN agencies while GCI is a new concept. As for the GSI, it necessitates an understanding between two countries before implementing any programs under it.   Some experts say these programs are Beijing’s way of recalibrating the BRI, which faced many hurdles in the past 10 years due to the commercially unviable projects, Covid-19 pandemic, economic crisis and climate change issues.  Malik says the era of cheap money with low interest rates and large-scale megaprojects is likely over, hence the advent of BRI 2.0. This could also be the reason why China is not forcing Nepal to select projects under the BRI, and repeatedly asking to come up with commercially viable projects that would help change the living standard of Nepalis. Experts say China will continue to invest in the infrastructure development of the Global South under the new version of the BRI. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, over the last decade, the BRI galvanized nearly $1 trillion in investments and established more than 3,000 new cooperative projects, creating 420,000 jobs for the countries and regions involved, and lifting approximately 40 million people out of poverty. Nepal and China are working to conclude an implementation plan for the BRI. But unless Nepali leaders make a concrete view on it, the program cannot move ahead. There is also a need for consensus among major parties, so that the Nepal and China are on the same page.    

Eight years after it first announced funds for startups, the government has finally issued the procedure to provide financing for such businesses. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply on Sunday issued the long-awaited 'Startup Enterprise Loan Fund Procedure 2079' which will enable startups to get loans from the government at subsidized interest rates. This has paved the way for startups to get loans up to Rs 2.5 million at an interest rate of three percent for a maximum period of seven years. While the government has issued the procedure, whether it will come into implementation is still a million-dollar question. For the past eight years, the government made announcements for startups but failed to bring them to implementation. In the budget for the fiscal year 2015/16, the government announced a Rs 500 million fund to groom startups and innovators. Again, in FY 2019/20, the government announced a cash subsidy of up to Rs 5 million for promising new businesses. While the government did some work in this regard, the work procedure did not see the light of day. In FY 2020/21, the government again formed a Rs 500 million startup fund to issue loans at a two percent interest rate. The National Planning Commission was designated as the agency to implement the fund. However, the plan to provide loans to startups at subsidized interest rates got stalled. In the federal budget of FY 2021/22, the government provisioned a fund of Rs 1 billion for startup promotion. With loan procedure 2079 coming into effect, the Startup Enterprise Implementation Committee led by the Director General of the Department of Industry will invite proposals from interested entrepreneurs and prepare details of the proposed projects for loans. The committee will have representation from the Company Registrar's Office, Nepal Rastra Bank, and the private sector. The committee has been mandated to evaluate the business projects and recommend them to the central bank for lending. NRB will authorize certain banks for the disbursing loans for startup entrepreneurs. As per the procedure, such loans will be provided in two installments based on the recommendation of the Startup Enterprise Implementation Committee. In the first installment, entrepreneurs will get 50 percent of the loan amount. The designated banks have to sign an agreement with startup entrepreneurs within three days of the NRB recommendation. And, the entrepreneur will receive the first installment of the loan within three working days of signing the agreement. The loan procedure has set certain criteria for getting the loans. Businesses that have not exceeded seven years of establishment or operation of an enterprise or business can get loan facilities. Similarly, the paid-up capital of the startup business or enterprise should not be more than Rs 5 million, the total income of the enterprise should not be more than Rs 5 million per annum, the fixed capital (excluding the value of land and house) should not exceed more than Rs 20 million and the number of full-time workers in the enterprise should not be more than 10. According to the procedure, such loans will be provided to start-up entrepreneurs involved in agriculture and animal husbandry, tourism, communication, IT, and the education sector.

While the country's imports have started to surge again, Nepal's exports are yet to grow like in the last fiscal year. The country's exports in Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) have been recorded as the lowest on a month-over-month basis in this fiscal year. In Falgun, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 11.363 billion. Thanks to the massive surge in the exports of edible oils, the country's overall exports expanded by a whopping 82.90 percent to Rs 147.74 billion in the eight months of the last fiscal year 2021/22. However, the exports have declined by 29.07 percent to Rs 104.79 billion during the same period of the current fiscal year. As Nepal’s export of soybean and palm oils which became major exportable items in the last few years, decreased sharply, the country's overall exports have fallen sharply in FY 2022/23. Nepal's exports reached an all-time high of Rs 200 billion in FY 2021/22. The country's exports crossed the Rs 100 billion mark in the eighth month of the current fiscal year. According to the Department of Customs, the massive decline in the exports of edible oils has dragged down the country's overall exports this year. The export of soybean oil has plunged to Rs 8.37 billion in this fiscal year from Rs 41.40 billion in the last fiscal year while the export of palm oil has fallen to Rs 15.18 billion this year from Rs 41.33 billion in the last fiscal. Soybean oil and palm oil emerged as Nepal's main export items in the past few years, primarily due to tariff exemptions on Nepali exports to India under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement. However, exports of edible oils suffered in this fiscal after India lowered its customs tariff after Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed international prices of edible oils higher. The exports of carpet, cardamom, felt, and juice have surged in this fiscal. Nepal's carpet exports reached Rs 7.38 billion in this fiscal compared to Rs 5.89 billion in the last fiscal year. The export of cardamom has also increased this fiscal year. The country exported cardamom worth Rs 5.86 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal compared to Rs 3.25 billion during the same period of the last fiscal. Monthly Exports