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Anurag Kunwar, a versatile artist carving his niche in the Nepali film industry, is a testament to dedication and diverse roles. Despite a background in hotel management, his true passion lies in portraying multifaceted characters on the silver screen.

Having pursued an advanced diploma in hotel management (food and beverage) in Singapore, Kunwar embarked on his cinematic journey upon returning to Nepal. “I was in Singapore for around 4.5 years from 2001, but my desire to pursue a career in my own country led me to return to Nepal,” he says.

Despite his educational background in hotel management, Kunwar found his passion for cinema eclipsing his interest in the hospitality industry. “I wasn’t convinced by the Nepali hotel system. My thought process never aligned with the system, causing me to lose interest despite having an education in hotel management,” he says.

He first established a horse-riding company before movies. “I started Angel Horse and Stable Pvt Ltd in 2010 which provides horse riding and horse buggy services in Kathmandu,” he says. As most of Kunwar’s relatives are from the military and police backgrounds, he says he saw horse buggies during family weddings. “Horse buggies and horses fascinated me since my childhood, so I decided to set up my own horse-riding company,” he says.

Kunwar ventured into acting as a character of a villain in Sudarshan Thapa’s ‘K Yo Maya Ho’ in Aug 2011. His debut role was well-received by the audiences, which helped him find other film roles. His fascination with cinema was nurtured by his friends within the industry, who often remarked on his natural flair for acting. “Sudarshan Thapa who gave me my first acting job is a dear friend,” says Kunwar.

The next movie Kunwar did was ‘Facebook’ in Sept 2012. In 2015, the two movies were released—‘My Promise’ and ‘Woda Number 6’. He then went on to do ‘Raato Ghar’ (2017), ‘A Mero Hajur 2’ (2017), ‘Shatru Gate’ and ‘Chhakka Panja 3’ in 2018. This year Kunwar had two releases, ‘Chhakka Panja 4’ and ‘Ek Bhagavad Ra Ek Gita’. In most of the movies he has done so far, he has been cast as an antagonist.

Reflecting on his movie choices, Kunwar says he gives a lot of thoughts on the character and team dynamics. “The primary factor for me is the ability to justify the character,” he says. “Of course, the cast and crew also play a huge part. They form the backbone of any cinematic endeavor. It’s a collective effort.” Kunwar says.

While remaining tight-lipped about his upcoming projects, Kunwar reveals the completion of the film ‘Hridaya Bhari’,  which is currently in its post-production phase.

“As an actor, I constantly seek diverse roles that allow me to explore new dimensions, ones that the audience may not be familiar with,” Kunwar says. He says he seeks roles that challenge societal norms and intends to delve into characters that mirror his own reserved persona, aiming to unravel unexplored facets through his performances.

“Revisiting my past performances fuels my determination to continually improve as an actor,” he says. “It also motivates me to work with more passion and determination in the next projects.” 

In Nepal, only five percent of the total population watch Nepali cinemas. Kunwar says there is disparity between local and international cinema viewership. “While Hollywood and Bollywood movies often draw audiences despite negative reviews, Nepali cinema faces a different scenario.” 

He says that even with positive reviews, Nepali audiences sometimes hesitate to visit theaters to watch Nepali films. He suggests Nepali viewers to offer local cinema the benefit of the doubt and consider watching it if the reviews are promising. “By being open to supporting Nepali films based on positive feedback, audiences can contribute significantly to the growth of the local film industry,” he says.

“A positive aspect in our industry is the continued production of Nepali cinemas, ensuring that the industry remains active,” he however says a concerning trend arises from filmmakers who create movies without adequate groundwork and preparation. “This lack of thorough planning ultimately affects the quality of the films, consequently dissatisfying the audiences.” 

He also says that it is crucial for filmmakers to prioritize proper research, pre-production work, and meticulous planning to deliver content that resonates positively with the audience and contributes to the growth of Nepali cinema.

Offering advice to aspiring industry entrants, Kunwar stresses the need for comprehensive industry understanding and highlights the industry’s financial instability as a critical factor. “The issue at hand is that Nepali celebrities often compare themselves to Bollywood celebrities without acknowledging the vast difference in market size,” he says. “It’s essential to understand that Nepali cine market is significantly smaller in comparison. While the actor should draw comparisons in terms of acting skills and performance, it’s unrealistic to equate our market volume and payment structures with Bollywood’s.”

Nepal is much better than it was three decades ago when democracy was restored. Poverty has substantially gone down, there is road access in remote regions, health system has improved, people live longer and healthier, and the quality of education has become better.

But over the past few years, the sense of pessimism among the people has increased. Many people, mostly the youth, believe that the things in the country will not change or become worse 10-20 years down the line. There aren't many optimists around. Even the wealthy folks, those with stable, well-paying jobs and businesses are glum. 

A few days back, a preeminent social worker and businessman said: “What surprises me is that even those people who have sufficient wealth and good career are pessimistic and leaving the country. It is hard to find any young people who are optimistic about their future these days. Most people do not want to stay in the country. Youths do not think about what will happen once they go abroad, they just want to leave this country.”

Nepali media are filled with the news stories of Nepalis illegally entering America through Panama Jungle, paying up to Rs 6m to manpower agents. There are also disturbing reports about Nepali men entering Russia on visit visas and joining the army to fight in the war against Ukraine. The government is now struggling to bring back the Nepalis serving in the Russian army, those held hostage by Ukraine and those killed in the war. According to the government's official figure, approximately 2,000 youths leave the country which does not include the people with visit visas.

Today if you meet college students, you can sense their disillusionment and frustration regarding the country and their future. Even those who are holding good jobs are disaffected. Scores of people who are in the civil service are leaving their job midway to go abroad. As for the professionals who are in their forties or fifties, they seem regretful for not leaving the country when they were young. Some of them are ready to go abroad, provided they get a good opportunity. Take one example of an established businessman in his fifties, who recently said: "My father is 93 years old, he recently suggested that I advise my children to go abroad so that I can also settle there later.”  It is not just the youths, even senior citizens do not see the future in this country.

So how did we get here? Political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta says those who are in their early twenties are the ones who feel most insecure and do not see better prospects in this country. 

“The collective insecurity has become a defining attribute of our young generation,” he says. “This sense of negativity among our youngsters has been building up for quite some time.”

He adds: “Many factors, including the politics of the country, should be held responsible for this. We have reached the point where every third person is waiting to board the next flight. Nepal is going through what scholars call a ‘polycrisis’. The permanent nature of such a crisis may push the country into ‘permacrisis’ or permanent state of crisis. This is the type of state and politics we have developed during the last couple of decades.” 

The reasons for unhappiness among Nepali citizens are innumerable. Since the 1990s, Nepal’s economic conditions have not been satisfactory. The country has come to a standstill with regard to job creation. Absence of production-based economy has increased Nepal’s dependency towards outside. 

“With more than 25 percent of national GDP, remittances have become the national lifeline. Remittances certainly have played a crucial role in reducing poverty in Nepal, but the stark reality that it produces is such that Nepal’s survival is connected with the global labor market,” says Bhatta.

Corruption is another big reason as to why Nepal and its citizens are not faring well. In fact, corruption runs so deep, from the center to the grassroots, that it is hard to imagine a government agency providing the simplest of services to a citizen without bribe money. Political parties and their loyalists have taken over high level government jobs, and their corrupt practices mostly go unpunished.

Only those who are close to the halls of power are getting job opportunities, while the rest are forced to leave the country to feed their families. “Nearly half of the population is associated with some political parties so that they can get opportunities to earn money. These people are content with the current situation of Nepal. The rest of the population do not see the future in the country,” says Bhatta.

At the heart of all these problems is a lack of political stability. Frequent government changes, and building and dismantling of coalitions among political parties have left ordinary Nepalis convinced that the country’s politics is never going to be stable enough to ensure development and economic prosperity. Political parties and their leaders are still engaged in petty power struggles and have not taken any measures to improve governance and economy.  

Growing pessimism, particularly among the youth population, is also posing a serious threat to democracy. They are gradually losing their faith in the power of vote and political parties. 

Ramesh Parajuli, a sociologist affiliated with the research institution, Martin Chautari, says the nature of pessimism runs at both individual and societal level. “Both privileged and underprivileged groups are agitated in this country. It is obvious for the underprivileged to be agitated, but the privileged group is also feeling the same way,” he says.

Nepal’s politics, Parajuli says, is in a quagmire that has failed to chart a clear course of action. 

“Politics has not taken a clear direction partially due to the electoral system we have adopted. The same set of parties and politicians are in power for decades and continue to take privileges. They are heavily involved in corruption, and this has hampered the economic growth and opportunities, thereby creating pessimism,” he adds.  

Jaleswari Shrestha, a 76-year-old author and storyteller from Kathmandu, has gained widespread recognition for her literary contributions. Her notable works for children include ‘Pari ko Ghar’, ‘Pinky Ra Putali Haru’, a Braille book for visually impaired students, and anthologies like ‘Lava Ka Baaf Haru’, ‘Maun Bidroha’, ‘Phool Phoolaune Gamala’ and ‘Marriage Anniversary’. She published a novel ‘Niyati Chakra’ in 2012 which focuses on women’s empowerment. 

The feminist writer serves as the chairperson of ‘Gunjan Nari Sahitya Sanstha’ and is actively engaged in literary initiatives and programs. She was awarded the ‘Nawaranga Sahitya Bisesh Kadar’ in 2003, ‘Bal Sahitya Pratisthan Samman’ in 2006, ‘International Shaan Award’ in 2010, and ‘Bishwa Nari Nepali Sahitya Padak’ in 2014 among others. In an interview with Babita Shrestha from ApEx, the author spoke about her literary journey and the books she has written.

Can you tell us about your writing journey?

My journey as a writer began with a deep love for reading. I read  Mahabharata and Ramayana which later helped me express myself through writing, initially in Nepal Bhasa. Despite being a full-time homemaker after marriage, I later found solace in writing. I used to publish them in newspapers. 

Growing up, I saw a lot of gender bias, polygamy, and women being suppressed. Even the educational opportunities were different for boys and girls. It got to me and every time I spoke up about it, I was told to keep quiet. There were moments when I wished I was born a boy just so I didn’t have to face those challenges. Then, my children needed their father’s permit for something in Darjeeling. But my husband was out of the country. My authorization letter was rejected. An uncle had to step in. That hit hard because I was restricted from doing a simple motherly duty. Later, that frustration found its way into my debut book, ‘Lava Ka Baff Haru. It has 21 stories and was published in 2001. 

Since then, I’ve been on this writing journey, putting together story collections, children’s books, and novels. My writing is all about sharing my experiences and shedding light on social issues, especially those related to gender and family dynamics.

What compelled you to tell the kind of stories you do?

I ended up writing the kind of stories I do because back in the day, the idea of women leading independent lives in our conventional society was a far-fetched dream. Polygamy was the norm, and divorces weren’t as common as they are now. But for widowed women, life was a whole different struggle. And let’s not even get started on the unfair consequences women had to face even when they were victims of violence.

 The whole gender bias and the patriarchal setup used to drive me crazy, and I needed an outlet. So, I started pouring all those emotions and my take on these issues into my stories. It’s like a reflection of the three generations I’ve seen—me, my daughter, and now my granddaughters. The fight against gender discrimination is still on and I feel this strong urge to bring those harsh realities to light, which is what I’m currently working on. There’s also the joy of writing about nature and creating children’s stories. It’s my way of exploring different aspects of life and bringing some diversity into my writing.

 How do you write a story? Where do you find the inspiration from?

When I’m working on characters that people can connect with, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. Women in Nepal are driven by a patriarchal mindset and that’s something I often delve into in my stories. Take ‘Phool Phoolaune Gamala Haru’ for instance. It’s about discrimination and nature. I have compared our life to the life of plants. Writing is about finding relatable angles.

 In ‘Niyati Chakra’ I’ve dug into the wild side of women, exploring freedom and shining a light on the harsh realities we face. I’m all about empowering women through my writing. When I’m sketching out characters and weaving the plot, it’s a mix of digging into my memories and throwing in a splash of imagination to make sure the storyline does justice to reality.

 What are the challenges of being a writer and how do you overcome them?

There were many hurdles. But the support I got kept me going. When I decided to dive into more explicit themes in ‘Lava Ka Baff Haru’ with all those complex love affairs and relationships, my sister and friends were genuinely worried for me. They thought I might be stirring up too much trouble. But my husband was my rock through it all and he had my back.

 Despite the raised eyebrows and concerns, I still published the book. I was on a mission to shake up that patriarchal and male chauvinist mindset. I wasn’t going to back down. Surprisingly, I got a lot of praise for how I delved into the inner workings of a woman’s heart. I consider it to be my first step in making people have an open mind about sexuality and gender equality.

 Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

You must approach writing with dedication and a sense of responsibility. Don’t allow others’ opinions to hinder your imagination. Writing should feel unrestricted and effortless, like a conversation. So don’t hesitate to express your creativity freely. Don’t be scared of people judging you and enjoy sharing your stories.

‘How to Kill Your Family’ is narrated in the first-person by Grace Bernard, a 20-something Londoner who hates her millionaire father. He refused to acknowledge her as his daughter. She and her mother had miserable lives while he shuffled between his luxury homes. Now, Grace’s mother is dead and she wants revenge. She wants to kill her father, but not before she kills the rest of his family members. She wants him to suffer.

 But before she can kill him, she ends up in prison. She isn’t caught for the many murders that she does commit but for one she had nothing to do with. In prison, Grace keeps a journal in which she documents the six murders she committed. She describes them in great detail, almost relishing them and in her flawless execution.

The book had potential—the plot is interesting. The characters are well-crafted. But the author didn’t flesh out the story beforehand. The first few chapters are good and the story picks up pace mid-way. But the ending feels forced and abrupt. Grace kills people in ingenious ways but that’s all she’s doing and after a few murders you can guess what she’s going to do. It gets repetitive and boring.

The story is peppered with biting commentary on the consumerist culture. These bits are fun and provide insight into Grace’s mindset and what drives her. But Grace still comes across as acerbic and annoying. I could never empathize with her. Even when some people have been kind and taken care of her, she’s been ungrateful, always questioning their motives. She never grew on me.

Also, since the story is narrated only from Grace’s perspective, you get a one-dimensional view of what’s happening. Grace is a cynical narrator and thus every character comes across as silly and vile. There is only black and white in Grace’s world and as a reader you find Grace’s ideas being forced onto you. It’s quite a discomfiting feeling at times.

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie is a light read you will forget the minute you finish it. It goes downhill pretty quickly. But you will have some fun while reading it. The writing is humorous and some passages will resonate with you, or you will vehemently disagree with the protagonist’s ideas. Whatever the case, your opinions and biases will surface time and again. In that way, the story will lead to some introspection, which can sometimes be a much-needed thing. But don’t go into it expecting it to be a great read, it’s just an average one.

Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50224049 

How to Kill Your Family

Bella Mackie

Published: 2022

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 359, Paperback