KATHMANDU: On the occasion of Global Film Day, a discussion on Women in Film took place in the capital, featuring actress Basundhara Bhusal, visual editor Raksha Singh Rana, dance director Renesha Bantawa Rai, and distributor Jenish Pahari.
The event, organized by Global Compact Nepal and Butterfly Films, provided a platform for women in the film industry to voice their experiences and challenges.
Laxmi Sharma, a tempo driver, industrialist, and social worker, delivered the welcome speech, while Krishna Shah, Executive Director of the organizing body, facilitated the session.
Actress Bhusal shared her journey from her first film Aama to her latest Behuli from Meghauli.
“I got the opportunity to shoot my first film in Calcutta, where I learned a lot by observing the performances of Hindi film actors in the studio,” she recalled.
Bhusal also discussed the personal struggles she faced when entering the film industry.
“My mother was very upset, and society criticized me. People would tease me on the street, calling me fake. But later, I found out that the audience appreciated my work,” she said.
Bhusal also highlighted the changing attitudes towards the film industry. “We sell our work more than ourselves,” she said, lamenting the decrease in remuneration over time.
“When I started acting as a comedian, films were made by the government, and I was paid a decent salary according to my role. But when private producers entered the scene, they started bargaining over remuneration. In some films, I would have refused to play the role of a mother if I had been paid so little,” she added.
Visual editor and director Rana spoke about the opportunities for women in the film industry, stressing the importance of recognizing one’s potential and working hard to succeed.
“I was part of the first batch when computer education was introduced in schools in Nepal. My interest in computers led me to film editing,” she said.
Recalling a challenging moment in her career, she shared, “I once worked for 18 hours on an action film. A famous conflict director came in and said in Newari that women shouldn’t be editors. I stood my ground and told him, ‘This is my project, and I will handle it.’”
Dance director and filmmaker Rai shared how she decided to pursue dance direction after grade 12 and built her career through hard work.
“When I entered music video choreography, I was the only woman in the team, and I had to pretend not to hear the actions being given to me,” she recalled. “I was young, but I didn’t give up. I would dress and act boldly to assert myself.”
Rai advised the younger generation, “Today’s youth may feel they can do everything, but there is much to learn in the film industry. It’s not as simple as shooting a video on a mobile phone, editing it, and posting it on social media.”
Distributor Pahari discussed the challenges of film distribution and the opportunities available in the industry.
“There are many challenges, and you have to think ahead to solve the problems that arise during the process,” she said. “Although women are well-represented in other areas of film, distribution remains male-dominated. That’s why I often find myself alone in meetings.”
Pahari also pointed out that societal and familial beliefs still discourage women from entering the film industry, a mindset that needs to change.
Butterfly Films Chairman Sirjan Shrestha concluded the event by expressing his gratitude for the interactive program, which saw participation from students, filmmakers, and businesspeople.
