A year well spent on YouTube and Netflix
I think I watched over 300 movies and series in 2021, my highest yearly count, thanks to the pandemic, high speed internet and my new smart TV. Not been to a movie hall since January 2019 though. Not even for Spiderman. But not missing any of that experience either as Kathmandu’s traffic has only worsened and parking charges have gotten atrocious.
So to sum 2021 and my movie-watching experience, I revisit some of my recommendations for the year in case you have missed them. The recommendations are not all ‘5 Stars’ mind you. I am just reinforcing some movies that are definitely worth your time.
On YouTube
Ghampani (2017)
Ghampani is a lighthearted social drama, the debut work of film critic turned writer/director Dipendra Lama. It was a box office success when it was originally released. Right through his filmmaking career, Lama has given the impression of being someone rooted to society and its realities, even in his works of fiction. Ghampani is a movie that sums up Lama’s style of writing and directing stories, as well as characters and settings that are the mirrors of our society.
The movie is set in a rural village, where childhood friends Furba Tamang (Dayahang Rai) and Tara Sharma (Keki Adhikari) fall in love and disrupt the social ‘harmony’ as they are from separate castes.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Drama
Actors: Dayahang Rai, Keki Adhikari, Ankeet Khadka
Director: Dipendra Lama
Run time: 1hr 53mins
Dhanapati (2017)
Dhanapati is a criminally underrated movie, and deserves a lot more attention. Directed by Dipendra K. Khanal, the film stars the very talented Khagendra Lamichhane who also writes this political drama that spells only reality when it comes to narrating a common man’s life.
The film revolves around Dhanapati and his life as a common man living in poverty with his wife (Surakshya Panta) and a daughter. To send his daughter to a good school, Dhanapati plunges into politics, to some troubling consequences.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Actors: Khagendra Lamichhane, Surakshya Panta, Aashant Sharma
Director: Dipendra K Khanal
Genre: Drama
Run time: 1hr 53mins
Khatta Meetha (2010)
The Hindi-language movie gave the world Sachin Tichkule, a popular character among meme lovers and connoisseurs of contemporary online humor in our part of the world. When Urban Development Minister Ram Kumari Jhakri went on a rant against engineers and architects recently, I vividly remembered some scenes from this movie.
Akshay Kumar plays Sachin, a contractor from a respectable middle-class family who has big dreams but small coffers. With no means to pay bribes to get his hands on lucrative government contracts, Tichkule struggles to stay in business, even as his family loses faith in him.
Rating: 3 stars
Drama
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever
Direction: Priyadarshan
Length: 2hr 38min
On Netflix
Vanjagar Ulagam (2018)
Fifteen minutes into Vanjagar Ulagam, I realized the film’s background score was oh-so-good and re-watched it from the beginning just to pay more attention to it. Thank you for this feature, Netflix (and other OTTs).
The 2018 Tamil language crime-thriller that translates to “World of crafty people” made it to my review list just because of its sound track. In the movie, Shanmugam alias Shaam (Ciby Bhuvana Chandran), wakes up from a drunk stupor one day to find out that he is accused of murdering his neighbor, Mythili (Chandini Tamilarasan).
Rating: 3.5 stars
Genre: Crime/thriller
Actors: Ciby Bhuvana Chandran, Guru Somasundaram
Director: Manoj Beedha
Run time: 2hrs 2mins
Capitani (2019)
Capitani comes as a recommendation not only because its a Luxembourgish production, but also because the crime drama series puts its protagonist—inspector Luc Capitani—into a labyrinth of interconnected mysteries that point at multiple directions. Right from the opening shot, the film weaves an intricate web of suspense and secrets, which unfold till the very end.
And Capitani is not only an entertaining thriller but also an educational one as it provides a rare glimpse into the people and society of exotic Luxembourg. For example, it took me the whole first episode to realize that Luxembourgish language is heavily influenced by German and French.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Crime, thriller
Run time: 5hrs 30mins (approx.)
Actors: Luc Schiltz, Jil Devresse, Claude de Demo
Director: Christophe Wagner
Clickbait (2021)
This American-Australian miniseries is probably one of the most relevant in contemporary times. The eight-episode series is about how the internet has become a means of inciting violence, but it also does not focus entirely on technology either. Instead, Clickbait follows its humans—the characters in the story who give their unique POV in each episode.
Nick (Adrian Grenier) gets into dire situations because of the internet while his friends and family scramble to save him. Using Nick and his family to tell the story, Clickbait also mirrors the lives of millions of people who have been wronged on the internet one way or the other.
Rating: 4 stars
Actors: Adrian Grenier, Zoe Kazan
Directors: Brad Anderson, Emma Freeman, Ben Young, and Laura Besley
Run time: 5hrs 30mins (approx.)
Top 10 non-fiction reads of 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, so does another year of engrossed reading. And there is always so much to read about our own country and the neighborhood. The region, by the way, also makes for the most popular non-fiction reads here in Nepal. Here are the ‘Top 10’ non-fiction bestsellers for the year as per Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, Kathmandu.
1. All Roads Lead North: Nepal’s turn to China by Amish Raj Mulmi
This book navigates Nepal-China relationship over the past three centuries. Mulmi tries to tackle Sino-Nepal relations from the perspective of those whose lives are directly impacted by the geopolitical developments in this region. He records experiences of Nepal-Tibet traders, former Khampas (Tibetan guerillas), Nepali entrepreneurs and the population living near the country’s northern border with China. Alongside, there’s also a concise modern history of the complex Nepal-China-India relations. The book portrays China’s increased influence in Nepal through trade, tourism and bilateral investment and highlights how that affects people living along the Nepal-China border.
2. India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present by Shivshankar Menon
The author gives an insight into India’s role after independence, within Asia and the broader world. Menon tries to capture modern India’s navigation of regional geopolitics in order to pursue its foreign policy goals. He also looks at the future and analyzes how India’s policies might evolve in response to the current and new challenges. As India continues to grow economically and gain stature on a global scale, its domestic preoccupations and international choices become more significant. Monon’s long diplomatic career and his grasp of geopolitical and diplomatic history is reflected in his writing. The book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding India’s role in the emerging world order.
3. Unleashing the Vajra by Sujeev Shakya
Shakya analyses the social, political, and cultural aspects underlying the state of Nepal in order to strategize the recalibrations required to capitalize on its location. He questions the basics of Nepali culture, consumerism, conduct, and convergence of economic activities with its two neighbors, India and China. Nepal now has the opportunity to unleash its economic potential and take advantage of the two populous and emerging economic neighboring powerhouses, but the book asserts that the country has only two decades to realize this potential. There is a good overview of the historical underpinnings of today’s achievements and opportunities. In addition, it offers thoughtful perspectives for readers who have an interest in Nepal’s economic and foreign policies.
4. The Politics of Nepal: Persistence and Change in an Asian Monarchy by Leo E. Rose & Margaret Welpley Fisher
The book offers a systematic introduction to the Nepali political system. Rose has always been invested in Nepali politics from when he first co-wrote Democratic Innovations in Nepal with Bhuban Lal Joshi, about two personalities from extreme sides of the political spectrum: King Mahendra and the first elected Prime Minister, BP Koirala. Nepali politics had long been neglected by scholars and was largely unknown to the outside world until mid-fifties, even though Nepal is quite unique considering it has never been reduced to a colonial status and it was one of the few Asian countries where monarchy was the chief agency in the modernization of traditional institutions.
5. Beyond Possible by Nimsdai Purja
Beyond Possible tells the reader that anything is possible, as long as you have hope and determination. Nimsdai Purja takes us on his journey of achieving the seemingly impossible: scaling 14 mountains of over 8,000m in six months and six days under ‘Project Possible’. Along the way he saved several stricken climbers and put spotlight on climate change and the Nepali climbing community. Not only does the book talk about his bravery but also moments he wavered due to his near-death experiences in an avalanche and the frustration when no other climbers were helping him rescue lost climbers. One encounters a world which is so ruthless that death is a common phenomenon.
6. Nehru, Tibet and China by Avtar Singh Bhasin
Bhasin analyses history to understand why Indo-China relations continue to remain tenuous. The book analyses events from 1949 to the Indo-China war in 1962 and its aftermath to provide more context about the bilateral dynamic. Jawaharlal Nehru’s futile attempts to prevent the communists from taking over Tibet and the fleeing of the 14th Dalai Lama to India was the onset of India’s souring relations with China, he writes. Documents and archives are used to make the narrative authentic and credible. A synopsis highlights how policies were made during this critical period in India-China relations as well as their continued relevance.
7. Political Economy of Social Change and Development in Nepal by Jeevan R. Sharma
Nepal has been undergoing various socio-political and economic changes since the 1950s. From a hierarchical monarchy to a republican order which has engrained ideas of human rights and equality, there has been a gradual shift in the political economy of rural livelihoods and deeply penetrated ideas of development and modernity in the countryside. Focusing on local discourses and experiences, it draws attention to the power of historical processes and how they produce ideas of equality, human rights, and citizenship. Sharma also builds on the scholarship in Nepal from a multi-disciplinary and synoptic perspective.
8. Backfire in Nepal: How India Lost Plot to China by Sanjay Upadhya
The author takes the reader through a timeline of Nepal-India relations in the past 15 years. Starting with Nepal’s own Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2006) to the signing of the new transit, security, and strategic treaties between Nepal and China most recently, Upadhya highlights seminal developments that have enhanced China’s role while reducing India’s in this landlocked country. He discusses China’s growing investments in Nepal as well as a number of high-level visits, including from Chinese President Xi Jinping. As is clear from the book, the 2015 unofficial border blockade was, in many ways, the turning point in China’s engagement in Nepal. The book is a must read for anyone who is interested in understanding recent developments in India-Nepal relations.
9. Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties by Ranjit Rae
Rae examines the contemporary state of India-Nepal relations and offers a plethora of details in bilateral ties. After the 2015 blockade, the relations have gone through several ups and downs. And with China increasing its influence in Nepal, the author argues, the country could become a closely-contested geopolitical battleground. The book is at its most interesting when Rae talks about Nepal as one of the best assignments for an Indian diplomat.
10. The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall
Mountains, deserts, and distances will have an eternal mark on national character and international relations. Marshall spotlights ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain, and Space. He explains how a region’s geography and physical characteristics affect its leaders’ decisions. Like its predecessor ‘Prisoners of Geography’, the book provides a thoughtful introduction to crucial concepts of international politics through the prism of geography. Any student of geography, in any of its manifestations, would love this book.
(Compiled by Paridhi Bhutra)
‘Everything Everything’ book review: Heart-wrenching and compelling
The YA fiction that is being published today makes me wish there were such stories when I was growing up. The stories that are out there put so many things in perspective—things you struggle to understand or accept when you don’t have the wisdom that comes with age. YA fiction today helps you deal with your emotions and they make you realize it’s not always necessary to fit in, that sometimes it might actually be a good thing to be the odd one out. Basically, these aren’t just stories with moral lessons. I feel they are helpful manuals for life. That wasn’t the case when I was in school. Most of the stories I read then felt preachy and forced.
‘Everything Everything’ by Nicola Yoon is a lovely, short book about a girl named Madeline Whitter who has a rare condition called Severe Severe Combined Immunodeficiency that makes her allergic to almost everything around her. A minor infection could be fatal. So, she spends her days inside a bubble—a hyper sterile environment created by her mother who is still grieving her husband and son, both of whom were killed in an accident. Then a new family moves in next door shortly after Madeline’s 18th birthday. As she watches them from her bedroom window, she starts getting interested in the cute boy who often looks her way. Then the boy, Ollie, starts talking to Madeline over IM and suddenly the girl who hasn’t left her home for 17 years starts wondering what the outside world is like.
Also read: ‘The Secret Keeper of Jaipur’ book review: Slow and sweet
The book is gorgeous and lyrical. It reads like a dream. Though it’s essentially a teen romance, there are lots of instances that leave you pondering about life and how beautiful it can be if you accept yourself and try to be a little kind (to yourself). The ending is a bit predictable. You can see where the story is headed 50 pages into the book but that doesn’t make the narrative any less interesting. Yoon’s empathetic writing makes you feel like you are in Madeline’s head. Despite her unfamiliar life, you feel deeply connected to her. Her mother and Ollie are also fascinating characters—ones you might not necessarily understand or relate to but find yourself rooting for anyway. All in all, Everything Everything is a book that teaches you to appreciate all that you take for granted. It’s a happy book that fills you with hope.
Everything Everything
Three and half stars
Fiction
Nicola Yoon
Published: 2015
Publisher: Corgi
Pages: 306, Paperback
‘Aranyak’ movie review: Raveena Tandon caps a stellar comeback
I do not usually review television series unless they are mighty interesting or are short and finish within a season. And had I not come across a review in an Indian daily that completely bashed the series as ‘problematic,’ I wouldn’t even have watched “Aranyak”, which was recently released on Netflix.
The reviewer had a problem with almost everything with the series, which currently has a user rating of 8.2/10 on IMDB. “How bad could it be?” I thought, as the trailer was not at all disappointing. Then I realized how subjective a series or film could be when one reviewer criticizes it as below par while a host of other, equally popular reviewers praise it as one of the best. What I think is, reviewers need to watch and write about a movie for what it is—a movie and not read in between the lines too much.
Aranyak is a suspense thriller based in a small, imaginary town of Sironah, somewhere in Himachal Pradesh. The simple townsfolk of the remote Sironah are leading a normal life until there’s a gruesome murder in town, brining back horrifying memories of ‘Nartendua’—a half-man, half-leopard that had last been on a killing spree some 19 years ago.
When Aimee (Anna Ador) is found raped and hanged to death in a forest, SHO Kasturi (Raveena Tandon), who is in her last day at work before a year-long sabbatical, becomes personally invested in the case, which would be her biggest so far. Unfortunately, for her, her replacement Angad (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) has already taken command of the post and begins the investigation. This leads to a power struggle as the two dedicated cops fight to find the culprit behind Aimee’s gruesome murder.
Fighting against each other for power would be the lesser of their challenges though. In a town mostly blinded by folklore, all fingers point towards ‘nartendua’ as the perpetrator. But along the lines of a classic whodunit, the investigation leads towards multiple suspects—powerful, high-placed humans. Soon the two cops—Kasturi, a local and a mother of two who has had problems managing work-life balance and Angad, an outsider who has had family problems of his own—find themselves in a storm of suspense, deception and political power which influences their investigation.
Also read: Jhyanakuti movie review: A film that tries too hard
With just eight episodes of around 45-50 minutes each, Aranyak is a gripping thriller that plays with the audiences’ mind. On the one hand, the audience might start imagining a mystic creature entering the screen anytime. On the other, there are so many possible suspects. The writer Charudutt Acharya and director Vinay Waikul spin a gripping tale until the very end of the series.
Aranyak also marks the return of Raveen Tandon to the screen. The actor, known for her beauty, dancing skills and comic timing in the 90s, is now a changed persona. As Kasturi, a character fighting many battles at home and outside, Tandon is stoic, strong and promises an extended OTT stay.
While the acting of the whole cast is commendable, the presence of veteran actors like Ashutosh Rana, Zakir Hussain and Meghna Malik bolsters the strength of the series. But maybe due to the brevity of the series or too much time spent creating suspenseful situations, the supporting actors—especially those mentioned—feel underutilized. The climax, after the big build-up, is also a bit underwhelming, but not a deal-breaker if you want to watch the series. There are hints of a sequel and we can only hope the few mistakes are rectified there.
Who should watch it?
Aranyak is a series that can be recommended to everyone interested in thrillers minus too much gore and violence. The story, screenplay and acting are packaged not to require anything gimmicky, which makes the film even more interesting. Also, the story finishes with the last episode, and so you have all the more reasons to binge-watch it over the weekend.
