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The film ‘Agnidahan’, set to release this Friday, premiered on Wednesday evening in Kathmandu. Following the premiere, most attendees from the film fraternity praised its storyline.
Director Narayan Rayamajhi emphasized that witchcraft practices still persist in rural areas, highlighting the need for more films like Agnidahan.
Politician Shankar Tiwari noted that while most films only depict problems without offering solutions, Agnidahan delves deeply into both issues and their resolutions.
Actor Birendra Shrestha remarked that the film portrays how human thought can take people to extreme ends. He applauded the concise and impactful presentation of a traditional story.
Director and actor Naresh Paudel described the film as a bold strike against the horrifying superstitions ingrained in society. He labeled it a rebellious blow against such disgusting practices.
Actor Lokendra Lekhak praised Agnidahan as a powerful voice against societal corruption and, specifically, the witchcraft tradition.
Spiritual figure Mata Sabita Acharya confessed that the film brought her to tears and left her feeling afraid, appreciating its realistic depiction.
Actor Tej Giri commented on the futility of lives and politics built on others’ suffering, commending the film’s strong messaging.
Kovidsharan Upadhyay, the film’s conceptualizer and presenter, revealed plans to screen the movie in districts bordering India in the Terai region soon. “Wherever we went, people acknowledged the existence of blind faith in witchcraft,” he said. He added that the team created the film to raise awareness, complementing their previous efforts against witchcraft through books, songs, and videos.
“We’ve worked on raising awareness through the book ‘Manchhe Boksi Hunna Kahile’, the novel Agnidahan, and social videos featuring renowned singers like Anju Panta, Satyaraj Acharya, Sworupraj Acharya, and Pramod Kharel. This film was conceived after discussions with director Ghanshyam Lamichhane to delve deeper,” he shared.
Upadhyay stressed that the film effectively raises awareness against heinous crimes such as assaulting women accused of witchcraft, forcing them to consume inhuman substances, burning them alive, and exiling them from communities.
Directed by Ghanshyam Lamichhane, the film stars Prakash Ghimire, Pramila Tulachan, Mao Tse Gurung, Anupama Bhandari, Tulasi Kshetri, Bishnu Bastola, and Tara Bahadur Gurung.
The story, screenplay, and dialogues are by Lokmani Poudel, with the concept by Kovidsharan Upadhyay, assistant direction by Parichhed Sen, cinematography by Dirgha Gurung, editing by Dirgha Khadka, and production design by Shankar Pandey.
The film, which has already been viewed by prominent figures such as former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has also received the Special Film Award from the Nepal Film Development Board.
