The Nepalese filmmakers have produced several notable and outstanding films, including Kabaddi, Chhakka Panja, Loot, Pashupati Prasad, and the list goes on, known for its popularity worldwide & critical acclaim it received from audiences & critics while also nominating in international awards such as Oscars. Nepal’s emerging filmmakers are reshaping the landscape with their unique vision. From Nischal Basnet’s ingenious storytelling to Deepak Raj Giri’s comedic brilliance, each director brings a distinct flavor to the Nepalese film industry. So, in today’s story, we’ll look at filmmakers such as directors, writers, and producers who have become promising filmmakers in the Nepalese Film Industry, known for their creativity, distinctive approach, and filmmaking mastery.
Nischal Basnet
Nischal Basnet debuted as a director in the film Loot, which features outstanding comedy, excellent cast performances, entertaining dialogues, appealing songs, and a unique and never-before-seen storyline with the best cinematography, established him as a talented director in the Nepalese film industry. Following the success of his debut film, he worked as an actor in several popular films before directing his second film, Talakjung vs Tulke, which was another massive hit and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. He also played a role in the film and the film was a masterpiece that combined the theme of Maoist civil war with the best romance and comedy that were acclaimed around the world.
He continued to work as both an actor and a director, directing the sequel to his previous film, Loot 2, which was another huge success, starring the original cast from the prequel as well as some new faces as we see the characters being matured following another distinctive and engaging storyline. Then, after 6 years, he returned with an exceptional film, Dimag Kharab, by far the best of Nischal Basnet’s directing career, developed with heart and soul, featuring an excellent story, screenplay, cinematography, and outstanding performances by the cast. All four films became commercial hits at the box office with high expectations on his awaited upcoming film Damadol, Nischal Basnet has now established himself as one of Nepal’s most talented and promising filmmakers.
Dipendra K Khanal
Another promising filmmaker we have, Dipendra K Khanal on our list, is a screenwriter and film director best known for his work on Pashupati Prasad, Aama, Chiso Manchhe, Jholay, and Chappali Height. Dharmaa marked his directorial debut, and it was a commercial success. He soon directed the blockbuster film Chapali Height, which became Nepal’s second biggest hit of the year after Loot, thanks to thrilling sequences, funny dialogues, and a good presentation that showcased Dipendra’s talent as a film director. Following the commercial success of two films, he rose to great heights in the Nepalese film industry by directing another commercial success, Jholay, and one of the highest-grossing blockbuster movies, Pashupati Prasad, both of which contributed significantly to the evolution of the Nepalese film industry.
He soon made two romantic drama films and two social drama films, including blockbusters like Aama and Chiso Manchhe, while his romantic film Love Love Love performed well at the box office. Dipendra K Khanal has greatly evolved as a director with his most recent film, Pashupati Prasad 2, which is known for its excellent engaging narrative, excellent performances by the cast, and great comedy, leading the way for another blockbuster film by Dipendra K Khanal. Dipendra K Khanal’s outstanding talent is that whether the theme of the movie is comedy or romantic drama, he perfectly portrays the societal issues of Nepal, connecting the audience with its great unique storyline as he knows what the audience wants, making the movie engaging and interesting to watch.
Ram Babu Gurung
Ram Babu Gurung is a director and writer best known for directing all four Kabaddi films, all of which were commercial successes in Nepal’s film industry. Kabaddi, his directorial debut, was critically acclaimed for its great cinematography, excellent character portrayal, catchy tunes, narrative twists, and humorous remarks, all of which contributed to the film’s commercial success. Following the success of Kabaddi, he released three sequels: Kabaddi Kabaddi, Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi, and Kabaddi 4, all of which were huge successes due to excellent directing, a unique plot, and entertaining aspects of the film.
Along with the successful Kabaddi series film, he has directed films such as Purano Dunga, Mr Jholay, Saili, and Jaari, all of which were commercial successes at the box office. The majority of the films he directs are written by himself, and he is known for delivering the best romantic films in the Nepali film industry. With the recent success of Jaari, an extremely realistic film about Limbu people’s lives with great characters, photography, and presentation that will make you laugh and cry throughout the end of its romantic story.
Pradip Bhattarai
Nepalese screenwriter and director, Pradip Bhattarai made his directorial debut with the film Jatra, a heist comedy film with a delightful blend of comedy and drama with a talented cast performing their best, witty humor, creative plot twists, good cinematography, and engaging storyline marking his debut film a commercially successful film. After the commercial success of Jatra, he continued directing commercial films Shatru Gate, Jatrai Jatari, and the recent success of Mahapurush.
He primarily works as a director/creator of comedy-drama films, bringing audiences enjoyment through the use of humorous characters, humorous dialogue delivery, and collaboration with actors known for their comedic roles such as Bipin Karki, Deepak Raj Giri, and Maha Jodi (Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansa Acharya). Because of his expertise and directing talent in creating engaging comedy-drama films, he also served as one of the judges on the first Nepali comedy reality TV show, Comedy Champion. Pradip Bhattarai has screenwritten all his directed films, and his comedy films have all been successful at the box office, making him a promising filmmaker in the Nepalese film industry.
Min Bahadur Bham
Making his directorial debut with the film Kalo Pothi, translated as The Black Hen in English, a transformative film with evocative storytelling depicting the Nepalese civil war, emotional depth, sociological exploration, and a touching and authentic portrayal of friendship created a unique perspective on the human impact of historical events never seen in the Nepalese Film Industry, which became a blockbuster and won an award at the Venice Film Festival.
After his debut film became a blockbuster success, he directed another film that won another international award, the Norwegian Sorfond Award at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. With its captivating storyline, the film beautifully depicts Nepal’s breathtaking scenery and rich cultural traits through the main character, Pema’s liberating journey. Min Bahadur Bham is a promising filmmaker in Nepal’s film industry, known for delivering the best touching storylines from a unique perspective that have earned him international recognition, including his upcoming film Shambala, which will compete for the Golden Bear at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.
Dinesh Raut
Next on our list is Dinesh Raut, best known for his work in Prakash, and Prasad, who debuted as a director in the film, I am Sorry, which did well at the box office but received high praise for its direction, cinematography, storytelling, presentation, and music. However, his next film, November Rain, was a huge commercial success and was regarded as Nepal’s best romantic film at the time, with praise for the casts performances, direction, and storyline. He soon made films like Classic and Parva, both of which performed mediocrely at the box office.
However, he would soon make a comeback with the commercially successful film Prasad, known for its realistic storyline and impressive cinematography. Soon he would release, Prakash, as he devoted all of his heart, soul, and effort to perfectly portraying a story about social issues that we can relate to, through superb cinematography, narrative, and custom design, making Prakash the best movie directed by Dinesh Raut and one of the best Nepali films. Although he was best known for creating the best romantic films in the Nepalese film industry, Prakash was a social drama film that depicted Nepalese societal issues, which established him as one of Nepal’s most promising filmmakers.
Deepak Rauniyar
Deepak Rauniyar, an internationally acclaimed Nepalese director, writer, and producer, has directed films such as Highway, White Sun, and other short films. Highway, the film he directed, is a beautiful film with great cinematography, an interesting and engaging narrative, flawless performances by the cats, refined and authentic storytelling, and excellent directing, all of which contributed to its screening and selection at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, despite its poor box office performance.
While his second film, The White Sun (Seto Suriya), is one of the best films of the decade 2010s, expertly navigating the aftermath of the Nepalese Civil War with well-crafted storytelling, strong performances from the leads, and a thought-provoking cinematic experience, it was screened in 100 film festivals around the world, receiving critical acclaim and even receiving a commercial success at the box office. Most of his films, including short films, depict humanitarian and societal issues in Nepal, as well as the difficulties and challenges faced by people, particularly those living in rural communities, providing us with an authentic cinematic experience with detailed and engaging storylines that connect the audience with the lives of the movie characters, making him one of Nepal’s most promising filmmakers.
Upendra Subba
Upendra Subba is a Nepalese film director and writer best known for his work in the Kabaddi film series. He has mostly written the script and screenplay for films directed by Rab Babu Gurung, another promising Nepalese filmmaker. Ram Babu Gurung and Upendra Subba’s collaboration with a talented team and cast resulted in some of the most successful films of all time, including Kabaddi, Kabaddi Kabaddi, Taandro, Purano Dunga, Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi, and Kabaddi 4: The Final Match.
He is best known for developing engaging and interesting storylines, particularly romantic dramas with a touch of humor and comedy scenes, great cinematography depicting picturesque locations in Nepal’s rural villages, and a unique plot that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats until the end, with great music taste and an excellent cast performing to their full potential. While his most recent film, Kabaddi 4: The Final Match, was a box office success due to its simple plot but excellent character development, great cinematography, and unique and engaging storyline depicting the love interest from a female point of view, fans enjoyed the work of art, which was written and directed by two promising Nepalese filmmakers, Ram Babu Gurung and Upendra Subba.
Sujit Bidari
Sujit Bidari is a promising filmmaker in Nepal, known for his dedication to cinema and distinctive storytelling style. His career in the film industry has included notable achievements as both a writer and a director. Sujit Bidari’s debut feature film, Aina Jhyal Ko Putali (Butterfly on the Windowpane), has received praise not only for its cinematic merits but also for its social and psychological themes. The film tells the story of a girl from a remote area who wants to get an education, and it uses the metaphor of a butterfly on a windowpane to represent her struggle against societal constraints. The story reflects Sujit Bidari’s keen interest in women’s psychology and societal issues. His earlier works include the short film Savitri, which was shown at several international film festivals and won awards, demonstrating his early storytelling talent. Sujit Bidari has also worked as a scriptwriter on several films, including the critically acclaimed The Black Hen by another promising filmmaker, Min Bahadur Bham.
As a director, Sujit Bidari has made significant contributions to Nepal’s film industry. Aina Jhyal Ko Putali has received not only domestic acclaim but also a nomination in the New Current Award category at the 25th Busan International Film Festival. This achievement establishes him as the first Nepali filmmaker to receive such recognition, demonstrating his international impact. Sujit Bidari’s commitment to cinema, focus on societal issues, and international recognition establish him as a promising filmmaker who will contribute to the growth and evolution of Nepal’s film industry. His ability to combine storytelling, societal commentary, and psychology makes him one of the promising filmmakers in Nepal.
Deepak Raj Giri
Last but not least on our list is Deepak Raj Giri, a Nepalese director, screenwriter, producer, and comedian best known as a popular and talented actor who began writing, directing, and acting in the iconic Nepali sitcom or television series Tito Satya. Following his work on a successful television series, he went on to work as an actor in a popular Nepalese film, playing a comedic character, and as a scriptwriter/screenwriter on films such as Chha Ekan Chha, Woda Number 6, the Chhakka Panja series, Shatru Gate, and Chha Maya Chhapakai, all of which he acted in and produced. The majority of the films he produced became blockbusters at the box office, and all of the films he worked on were commercial successes.
Being a talented actor and filmmaker, he primarily works on comedic drama films, as his Chhakka Panja series is known for providing an engaging storyline with the best humor and comedy, comedic characters played by comedic actors, great cinematography, catchy dialogues, amusing music, and an entertaining plot depicting social issues that are relevant to people’s lives. Aside from the Chhakka Panja series, Chha Maya Chhapakkai, Shatru Gate, and Woda number 6, the films to which he contributed performed well at the box office, providing audience entertainment with an engaging storyline, humor, and a great presentation of Nepalese societal issues with good cinematography, establishing Deepak Raj Giri as one of Nepal’s promising filmmakers.