New Nepali Film ‘Railko Bato’ to Portray the Struggles of Karnali Region

Kathmandu – A new Nepali film titled ‘Railko Bato’ (The Path of the Rail) is set to be made, aiming to depict the social, political, and physical realities of the Karnali region. The film will be produced by Kasturi Production Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with Red Umbrella Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., with the story and direction by Laxman Sunar.

The production team officially announced the film and released a thematic poster. The poster shows a gate with the words “Rural Municipality Office Inauguration” and a large banner where “Welcome to the Prime Minister” is written. This imagery serves as a critical commentary, suggesting that Karnali has become a mere “showcase laboratory” for political appearances.

The music will be composed by Suraj Pandit, cinematography by Nishal Paudel, and poster design by Rakesh Dahal. Nagendra Ghimire is the executive producer, and distribution rights have been acquired by Kafiya Films.

A poignant line on the poster reads, “Take your Singha Durbar, give me back my village,” expressing deep emotional and political frustration over state neglect.

According to director Sunar, the film’s narrative will focus on the struggles of ordinary citizens, the relationship dynamics between husband and wife, and political neglect. Key themes include the lack of roads, difficulties in accessing healthcare, interference in development projects, and the disregard from centers of power in Karnali.

The film is planned to be shot across various districts of Karnali towards the end of this year, with a release scheduled for 2026/27 (Nepali year 2083). The screenplay is currently in its final stages, and casting decisions will be announced soon.

Previously, a music video with the same title garnered significant attention. The film aims to vividly portray “the pain of remote areas and the hope for a railway that may never come,” bringing these issues to the big screen with realism and sensitivity.