Roll No. 1: What the Cast Says About the Film ?

Kathmandu. The cast of the movie 'Roll No. 1', which is scheduled for release on Jeth 15, has stated that the cinema raises issues regarding child psychology and independent interests. According to the actors, the film tells the story of the pressure parents put on children to stand first in class and its subsequent impact.

Actor Mukun Bhusal states that the cinema raises its voice against the Nepali society's perception that only the person who secures the first position is scholar, while everyone else is a fool. The slogan of this cinema is 'Every Student's Story'.

"Even in our promotional content, we have mentioned that only the first in class is a scholar and everyone else is a fool; that is exactly the story of the movie," he said. "It is the mindset of our society to want to fulfill their unaccomplished dreams through their children. For this, we forcibly try to compel our children to fulfill our dreams."

According to him, 'Roll No. 1' raises its voice to bring a change in this mindset and psychology. He argues that students should be left free according to their interests, and that is the only way they can become successful.

He mentions that when one works in a field and subject of their own choice, great achievements can be made even with little effort. "I myself grew up in such an environment. I used to stay up all night cramming and studying," Mukun says. "Perhaps if I had studied a subject of my interest in school, I could have understood it in half an hour instead of studying all night."

He explains that parents often think about how to escape the poverty they have experienced throughout their lives and how to free their children from it. "Therefore, we have a perception that education is the only way to escape poverty. That impact is present in Nepali society, and we pressure our children to study," he said.

Mukun says that although parents pressure children to study with a positive mindset for their better future, the cinema tells the story of the negative thoughts it causes. However, he urges everyone to be assured that the cinema does not convey a wrong message that one does not need to study or that it is okay not to work hard in studies.

"There are many things in the cinema. It also gives the message that one must be educated to be successful in life," he clarifies. "It is not that one shouldn't study at all; it also shows that one needs to study to be successful. However, it is only a matter of what to study, how to study, and how to teach."

Actor Sushank Mainali stated that 'Roll No. 1' tells the story of what happens in children's lives due to parental pressure. He mentioned that subjects studied and crammed under pressure and influence do not stay in the mind for long. He clarified that one cannot sustain for long or become competent in a field entered under someone else's pressure.

"This cinema is also an internal conflict between a father and a son. Every parent wants their son to be like them or become what they couldn't become," Sushank says. "This cinema contains the story of the pressure to fulfill one's own desires through the son and the struggle that comes with it."

He stated that if a child's desire is identified and they are guided towards it from the very beginning, every individual will be successful in their life. He mentions that there is a situation where people complete Plus Two or Bachelors and then move to another discipline or sector, by which time a lot of time and money of both the child and parents has already been spent.

Actor Sushank mentioned that at a time when the current government is saying exams should not be conducted until class five, 'Roll No. 1' is also raising the same issue, but this is just a coincidence.

However, he clarified that the cinema does not carry the government's agenda. Nevertheless, he emphasized accepting the truth that the issue raised by the government is receiving a lot of public support because it is correct. "But the cinema does not carry the government's agenda," he says.

"Our cinema was already filmed before this government was formed. The people in the government have also come from among us," Mukun says. "Everyone thinks about good things. Everyone thinks about doing something good. In this process, the thoughts might have aligned."

Actress Renu Yogi stated that 'Roll No. 1' is built on child psychology. She mentioned that the movie features the story of dreams given by a father to his child so that the child does not have to live in poverty.

According to Renu, the impact on a child's psychology when parents pressure them and its effect on their life can be seen in the movie 'Roll No. 1'.

She is confident that the cinema clarifies the reality of how sensitive children are. "Looking at it one way, it feels like what the parents say is also somewhat right, but looking at it another way, it feels like maybe I would have protected them a bit more if it were me," she said. "But ultimately, I feel it is better to guide the child in whatever their desire is. If it were me, I would stand by the child's side."

Produced by Binod Paudel, the movie 'Roll No. 1' is releasing on Jeth 15.

Directed by Jon Yonzon, the movie stars Mukun Bhusal, Sushank Mainali, Renu Yogi, and Srijana Adhikari in lead roles. The child actors in the movie are Nirbhik Regmi, Rinchen Lama, Samyam Katuwal, and Sejal Shrestha.

Binod Paudel and Janvi Paudel are the producers of the film, while Chhatramaya Giri and Ramesh Chaulagain are the co-producers. 'Roll No. 1' is written by Mahesh Dawadi. The DOP of this cinema is Shivaram Shrestha.