Director’s cut: Pradhumna Mishra talks about his journey in filmmaking

Pradhumna Mishra has been a cinephile for as long as he can remember. He grew up near Jai Nepal Hall, where he would go regularly to watch movies—lots and lots of movies. Exposure to the world of cinema at a young age fuelled and shaped his desire to become a part of it. At home he had his father, a singer and songwriter, to nurture his artistic dream. Mishra’s obsession with films grew stronger as he got older. He used to spend countless hours watching movies, absorbing the nuances of filmmaking. “A film should be more than just the plotline or the stars,” says Mishra, who wishes cinema audiences to be more receptive, so that they could find deeper appreciation for the films they watch. As a schoolboy, Mishra expressed his creativity by writing, producing and performing plays. He was particularly good at dancing, a skill that helped him land his first job as a dance and drama teacher. Besides instructing students and staging shows in schools, he was also involved in various cultural groups.

Mishra went on to serve as the vice president of Shiva Shakti Cultural Group, which he had joined as a student, and the managing director of Narsingha Cultural Group. It was around this time, he also picked an interest in photography and videography.

“I taught myself the basics before I took a formal class,” says Mishra. He cut his teeth in cinematography at Nepal Television. “It was a place that allowed me to put everything I had learned into practice and refine my skills.” Before joining NTV in 2003, Mishra had worked as the chief assistant cameraman for the hit TV show ‘Hostel.’ Working for TV provided a good foundation for Mishra, as he got to work in different formats from teleserials to documentaries to music videos and commercials. He directed music videos like ‘Pashupatima Kamala’ and ‘Malaipani Chaiyo Mobile’ that were hits during their time. He also created and produced reality shows such as ‘Super Acting Competition,’ ‘The Band Bhaskar,’ and ‘School Dancing Champion,’ on NTV and NTV Plus. “Back then, reality shows were not even popular in India,” says Mishra proudly. “Super Acting Competition produced brilliant actors like Raj Ballav Koirala, Sandeep Chhetri, Gambhir Bista, Gajit Bista, and Shreejana Subba.” Mishra also produced and directed ‘Pahichhan’, a talk show focusing on the plights of the LGBTIQA+ community. It was while doing this talk show that he was inspired to make a short film about the queer community of Nepal. The result was ‘Blue Flower,’ a short film that Mishra co-directed with Sunil Babu Pant, a prominent gay rights activist and former lawmaker. From capturing breathtaking visuals as a cinematographer to bringing his creative vision to life as a director and producer, Mishra has left his mark on the Nepali film industry. His works on documentaries and films such as ‘Under the Secret Tree,’ ‘Family Tree (The Birth of Buddha),’ and ‘Aryaghat’ showcase his technical expertise and cinematic flair. He has also worked on films like ‘Avatar’, ‘Haude’, and critically acclaimed ‘Dhulo’. Mishra won the Best National Jury Choice Film Award for ‘Dhulo’ at the 3rd Nepal International Film Festival.  At the latest iteration of the film festival, he won the best director award for the film ‘Dubidha’. His works have also received international recognition, including at the Hollywood Gold Award, Florence Film Award, New York Movie Award, and Paris Film Award. “Dhulo has received good views on YouTube, but the film didn’t perform that well in theaters. One of the reasons for this is that we have to compete with the overwhelming presence of Bollywood movies,” says Mishra, who wished the moviegoing audience were more discerning who gave equal preference to experimental and independent films. He advises aspiring filmmakers to be patient, hardworking and, above all, bold. “You can learn and copy from great filmmakers, but you have to make your film your own. Do not run after commercial success, make films that represent Nepali society and culture,” he says. “Be original and always give your best, but don’t have high expectations.” Mishra believes a good filmmaker must have patience, curiosity and a passion for storytelling.