Actresses take lead roles in films like ‘Lalibazar’ and ‘Ek Mutthi Badal’

In the film industry, a long-standing narrative has been forcefully established: to sell a movie, a ‘hero’ is needed, and that hero must be male. As a result, most stories revolve around male actors, while actresses are often confined to roles of love, sacrifice, or emotion. However, this narrative is gradually changing. The idea that actresses can also sell movies is gaining ground.

Recent films like ‘Lalibazar’, ‘Ek Mutthi Badal’, ‘Life Damage’, and ‘Guru Aama’ exemplify this shift. In these films, women are not just decorative characters but are portrayed as driving forces of the story. Although not for the first time, after a long gap, actresses are seen not just in lead roles but carrying the responsibilities of a ‘hero’. Among these, ‘Lalibazar’ is currently the most talked about.

Since its release on Baisakh 25, the film features Swastima Khadka portraying the life struggles of a woman from the Badi community. The film, which tells the story of a mother fighting against societal norms to secure her daughter’s future, raises voices against social discrimination and harmful traditions.

According to Swastima Khadka, having female characters at the center is a significant change. She says, “In our films, many stories are still written with male characters at the center. But audiences are now beginning to accept different narratives.” She emphasized that with a strong script, the story becomes more important than the gender of the character. The film ‘Ek Mutthi Badal’ addresses the issue of women’s personal freedom.

In this movie, actresses like Aanchal Sharma, Nisha Sharma, and Usha Rajak have performed alongside a technical team that includes female directors. The film portrays a young woman who seeks freedom in making her own decisions about marriage.

Released on Jestha 1, ‘Ek Mutthi Badal’ features Aanchal Sharma in the role of ‘Miley’, a daughter. “The character I played in the film seems to present the freedom of making one’s own decisions. It shows the psychology of a character ready for marriage, who should be able to express her decisions freely without family pressure. In this film, not only is a woman in the lead role, but women are also the primary contributors in most aspects of filmmaking like cinematography and editing,” said actress Sharma.

Aanchal Sharma stated that the film aims to showcase women’s decision-making capacity and confidence. “The film conveys the message that women should be able to make decisions about their own lives,” she said.

At one time, Rekha Thapa had established female characters as ‘action heroes’ in Nepali cinema. However, the market later shifted back to male-centric stories. Now, there are signs that the situation is changing again. Recent films have sent a clear message: audiences are no longer going to theaters just to see a ‘hero’; they are looking for a good story. And there is growing belief in Nepali cinema that such stories can also be told from a woman’s perspective.