The popular Deepak-Deepa comic duo have proven that some things really do get better as they age—wine, cheese, and their films. Their latest release “Cha Maya Chapakkai”, a continuation of their “Chakka Panja” series that started with “Cha Ekkan Cha” in 2015, is probably the most mature of the four movies that have been made using the same numerological funda. (They do mention an astrologer in the opening credit so we’re sure some divine intervention has been solicited to make all movies in the series financially successful.)
For this installment of the “Chakka Panja” series, the duo has roped in Rohit Adhikari as the producer while Dipendra Lama is given the directional responsibilities in the story he also writes. Deepak Raj Giri plays the lead as ‘BP’, and is also the person behind the screenplay, while his onscreen better-half Deepa Shree Niraula remains invisible in the movie and only takes the humble credit of ‘direction adviser’. But we do know the brainchild behind the whole franchise, right?
“Cha Maya Chapakkai” is a film based in Ghaderi village in hilly Nepal. Comrade BP is a communist cadre dedicated to his party and his communist father’s ideologies. Unfortunately, both he and his father (Prakash Ghimire) have not had any electoral success and BP, at 42, remains a bachelor, despite his mother’s constant nagging for him to get hitched. In fact, true- blue communists, BP and his father are both averse to material love, religion, and marriage.
But things take a curious turn when BP meets Jal (Keki Adhikari), a feisty medical doctor from their rival village Todke. After a few vengeful encounters, their animosity slowly brews into love and the 24-year-old doctor decides to get married to the 42-year-old politician. Her family, also politicians of a rival party, object—of course. But this is not the only focal point of the story. The comedy-centered duo of Deepak-Deepa have finally chosen as their focal topic something that is not so ‘glamorous’ and has rarely been touched in Nepali films, while its prevalence is still pervasive—water scarcity.
The problem is undeniably real and even the most lavishly living Kathmanduites have faced it and can identify with it at some level. Take that problem to a rural, hilly village in Nepal where water has to be carried long distances by women and children, and it becomes a truly gargantuan problem. So BP with his belle Jal—supported by comrades Praveen (Jitu Nepal) and Magante Narayan aka Goli Kanchha (Kedar Prasad Ghimire)—decide to wage a battle against the water bureaucrats and politicians who have denied water to Ghaderi village for so long. The presentation is brilliant and this is probably the best screenplay Giri has ever written. The dialogues, for which the aforementioned actors can be credited, are articulate and non-exclusionary. They use the language of politics in such earnestness that sometimes it feels like it’s our own Nepali comrades speaking at Khulla Manch. (Think Babu Ram Bhattarai and Prachanda.)
Working with some of the finest actors in Nepali cinema, the ability of director Lama to get the best out of them in all situations is commendable. Maybe it’s because of him that this film is more subtly humorous and guiltlessly enjoyable than its slapstick predecessors. Diverging from their loud-mouthed, insult-based, senseless, slightly racist and unintelligent comic sequences, CMC actually attempts dark humor, respects the audience’s intellect, and doesn’t objectify women to elicit audience laughter.
The acting-screenplay-direction in CMC is as ably supported by the cinematography. Director of Photography Hari Humagain, a Nepali cinema veteran, uses all possible angles to give the best possible views. From nailing locations to establishing characters and situations, the brilliant camerawork in CMC adds to the film’s artistic richness.
On the downside, the film is that it is rather lengthy: 2 hrs 25 mins is a long time to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and as a result, the climax suffers. Despite a promising first half and an enthusiastic opening of the second, the film never really picks up and the predictable/formulaic ending is a let-down. But that’s more a quibble than a complaint. It is most certainly worth a watch.
Who should watch Cha Maya Chapakkai?
We’re sure everyone who understands spoken Nepali would enjoy the film. This is also one of the rare Nepali comedies where sexually suggestive jokes and double-meaning dialogues are not used, so you can safely take your children along.
Rating: 3 stars
Run time: 2 hrs 25 mins
Director: Dipendra Lama
Actors: Deepak Raj Giri, Keki Adhikari, Jitu Nepal, Kedar Prasad Ghimire
