Deepak Rauniyar’s Rajaganj: A Bold Step in Women-Centric Nepali Cinema
Pic source: reportersnepal
Kathmandu: Deepak Rauniyar’s Films and the Power of Women-Centric Narratives
Every film directed by Deepak Rauniyar places “heroine-ism” at its core. From his short film Chaukathi to his latest feature Rajaganj, Rauniyar has consistently given prominence to female characters on screen. His women protagonists boldly challenge a male-dominated society, authority, and traditional thinking.
In Chaukathi, Ranju Jha and Asha Magarati play the lead roles. His debut feature Highway showcased Richa Sharma, Magarati, and Srishti Ghimire. Seto Surya featured Magarati and Sharda Adhikari in leading roles. His upcoming film Rajaganj takes female representation even further, setting a record in terms of women’s participation.
Expanding Women’s Roles Beyond Traditional Limits
In an industry where women are often confined to limited roles, Rauniyar has made a conscious effort to expand their presence from lead to supporting characters. It remains rare in Nepali cinema to depict women’s stories from their own perspectives.
With Rajaganj, Rauniyar challenges the gender biases in Nepali filmmaking. The highly anticipated film is set to release on Chaitra 1 (March 14). Having toured prestigious international festivals like Venice and Busan, Rajaganj is now ready for its homecoming.
Character Posters of Five Lead Actresses
On Monday, the film unveiled character posters featuring five key actresses: Richa Sharma, Gaumaya Gurung, Pashupati Rai, Pushpa Yadav, and Aarti Mandal. Posters for two more lead actresses—Asha Magarati and former Miss Nepal Nikita Chandak—will be released soon.
Asha Magarati plays Inspector Pooja, whose look was previously revealed in the teaser. Nikita Chandak portrays Inspector Mamata.
Other significant roles include Richa Sharma as Headmaster Sabita Koirala, Pashupati Rai as Menuka, Gaumaya Gurung as Rama, Pushpa Yadav as a journalist, and Aarti Mandal as Saraswati. Featuring seven women in central roles is likely a first in Nepali cinema. Through this, Rauniyar challenges the stereotype of limiting female characters to conventional tropes.
Comparisons with Emilia Pérez
The Netflix drama Emilia Pérez, nominated in 13 categories at this year’s Academy Awards, is expected to dominate the Oscars. The way Emilia Pérez presents its female characters in bold roles has drawn comparisons to Rajaganj, according to Film Fest Report.
In a Venice Film Festival review, critic Nikhil Akhil noted that just as Emilia Pérez gives equal credit to its female actors, Rajaganj does the same, making the comparison meaningful.
A review states:
“Among this year’s most noteworthy films at the Venice Film Festival, Deepak Rauniyar’s socio-political drama stands out like a constellation of fearless women, elevating the film to new heights.”
Festival Success and International Recognition
Rajaganj was produced by Rauniyar and Magarati for Aadi Films, Ram Babu Gurung for Bansuri Films, and Alan R. Milligan for Tanhauser Gate. The film was screened at five festivals within a single month last October and received a 10-minute standing ovation in Venice.
The prestigious New York Times previously listed Rauniyar among the nine emerging directors to watch worldwide. Additionally, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho has publicly praised his work.