Rajesh Hamal Edit
Rajesh Hamal Edit
It’s a village from the Far West of the late 90s in Nepal. The graveled
road is not busy at all, it's quiet, and we see something moving, it’s a
rickshaw, leg peddled one. A voice fades in.
SHANKAR
When you were too young,
I took your mother to a cinema hall for the first time to watch Rajesh
Hamal’s Movie.
She admired me and said I resemble the hero’s character in her real
life.
That’s when I realized every one of us has a hidden hero within
ourselves.
SHANKAR JOSHI, 40, and his daughter, JWALA JOSHI, 11, with Thai
cut hair, arein shades of a tree, where Shankar is narrating the story.
Shankar has a closed envelope in his hand. The Rickshaw stops nearby
and the Rickshaw driver starts peeing in a bush. There is a poster for a
new movie on each side of the rickshaw where we can see the
superstar, Rajesh Hamal. Shankar points towards the Rickshaw.
SHANKAR
The man in the poster is Mr. Rajesh Hamal
If you had a voice, it would be as powerful as his.
(Pointing an envelope)
The day Mr. Rajesh Hamal reply this letter,
I will assume you got your voice back.
CHANDIKA (O.S)
I got two works done,
What made you guys longing here for this long?
SHANKAR
Bauwa isn’t in the post office,
We will be back once he is here.
Chandika goes towards the house. The Rickshaw Puller pulls the
Rickshaw out. Shankar and Jwala are in the shade waiting for Bauwa to
arrive.
Chandika (O.S)
It’s been three days since I asked BICHARI to bring the scarecrow,
He didn’t show up yet. Can you go visit him today?
Chandika
Jwala, I am talking to you!
Chandika
Bring the rope!
It’s in my room.
Jwala goes to Chandika’s room and scans all around, finding a rope but
Jwala’s eyes stop at a door that led to another room that looks closed
for years. She stares at the door. Chandika speaks!
Chandika (O.S)
Where are you lost now?
Jwala passes the rope to Chandika. Chandika ties the damaged maze’s
plant to the rope. Jwala is standing still. Chandika looks at Jwala.
Chandika
What are you waiting for?
Go visit Bichari’s place and ask him to bring the scarecrows!
Chandika
Didn’t you listen?
Jwala is taking her step slowly. She is scared to go. After walking for a
while, she sees the cottage and stops. She is in a dilemma if she shall
go.
The cottage is in the middle of the field. It’s the only house there.
There are few female scarecrows and in the middle of the scarecrow,
there is Bichari, who looks mysterious, a bald hair, a messy, oversized
dressed up, eyeliner in the eyes. His hands are full of colors; mixed.
Bichari sees Jwala, standing still near his cottage. Jwala is scared. Jwala
tries to communicate in her sign language from the distance itself.
JWALA
When will the scarecrow get ready?
BICHARI
Scarecrows in your field?
BICHARI
It will take some more time to finish!
I will get it installed in the evening!
BICHARI
Get going now!
Jwala rushes out of the place. Bichari picks one of the heads from the
ground and gets into his cottage. There is one scarecrow getting ready.
He installs the head in that scarecrow and takes a few steps back.
Bichari is blushing at the scarecrow.
BICHARI
I have made you the most beautiful woman in the world.
BICHARI
Are you mad at me?
Common, Please Talk to me.
BICHARI
I got you!
You probably want a name before you start talking!
I will find the most beautiful name in the world for you!
Bichari slowly walks toward a bed near the scarecrow, picks up the
packet of his Ganja, fills it up, and starts puffing.
It’s a highway, covered by the jungle all around. A truck is passing by.
HANSHA UPRETI, 30, is driving the truck. The truck is decorated with
Rajesh Hamal’s photos all around. A man is writing the accounts.
Hansa is enjoying the music from Hamal’s film yet speaking to the man
writing accounts.
HANSHA
Tire—20, Gear Box Problem, Break Pump, Clause Plate, Noodles.
I think it's enough.
The MAN
It's 600 In total.
Hansa looks at the account and keeps it aside. The Man is bored with
the music. He has his own cassette; He pulls out Hansha’s Cassette
and tries to play his. Hansa restrictsthe man to play the music.
HANSHA
Stop that Hindi Music.
The man stops the music and replays Hansha’s Cassette. The Man is
looking around at the photos.
The Man
Who is the guy in the poster?
HANSHA
Get off the truck!
The Man
What happened?
HANSHA
This truck is not for those who don’t even know Rajesh Hamal.
The man is still in shock. Hansha closes the door and heads away alone
enjoying the music.
KUMAR
Get lost
KUMAR
I have already warned you!
Mind it!
Bhunte gets upset and stands by the road. Kumar looks at the other
kid.
KUMAR
I am off to the market to get new films,
Please do come to watch!
Kumar takes a turn to go.
BHUNTE
bring the one with a nice heroine.
It’s an empty road, Kumar’s cycle is parked on a side. The truck shows
up and stops by the cycle. The cycle is blocking Hansha’s way. Hansha
looks around and blows the horn out. Kumar is cleaning his hand and
feet in the field. Hansha Blows the horn again. Kumar looks back to the
truck, ignores it, and starts washing his face. Hansha Blows the horn
again. Kumar crosses the bridge to get near the truck. Hansha blows
the horn harder when he sees Kumar. Kumar doesn’t pace up his
speed. Hansha is getting irritated. Kumar approaches his cycle and
makes way for the truck. Hansha moves out murmuring at Kumar.
Each kid is either getting support from the wall or sitting in the corner
of the room. Everyone is standing and singing. MAYA, 7, is dancing in
the middle. Maya stops when the other stops singing.
MAYA
Now, it’s Bhunte.
BHUNTE
Now, It’s Jwala.
Everyone starts singing once again. Jwala doesn’t dance. Kids are
getting bored. In the meantime, they listen to a truck blowing its horn.
Everyone except Jwala runs after the truck. Jwala is alone in the
temple.
Chandika is doing some makeup. She tries to fit the wig in her hair.
Jwala comes to the house andwatches Chandika’s activities from a
distance.
Chandika
Where were you lost?
Did you talk to Bichari?
Chandika
None knows when will you get back once you go out!
Jwala looks Chandika for a while. Jwala shifts her eye to the slipper
being kept by the door outside the room. She slowly grabs the slipper
and hides them in the cowshed. Chandika gets out of the room and
starts searching for the slippers. She looks towards Jwala’s room.
Chandika
Did you hide it?
Chandika
I am getting late. Return it now.
Jwala doesn’t respond. Chandika wears the old slippers and goes. Jwala
comes out once Chandika is gone. In the meantime, somewhere near a
piece of music is heard. Jwala rushes to her room and tries to dance to
the music.
BIJAY
I am working on the case same, The Army is being a burden
CHANDIKA
Are Maoist and Armed Police creating hurdles?
BIJAY
Why would they? Did you finalize Jwala’s matter?
CHANDIKA
I am going to meet some people tomorrow,
It would be easy for us to get married once she is done.
I am pleading the same to God.
BIJAY
I am also trying my best; I only keep imagining us being together.
CHANDIKA
I am waiting for the same day, But I am afraid the villagers get to know
about us.
BIJAY
It’s You and Me,
I damn care about society.
Chandika smiles.
Chandika
We shall go visit Pokhara once we are married,
I really want to see Fewa Lake.
BIJAY
Do you know how to swim? Else you will get drowned!
CHANDIKA
Just imagine how beautiful it would be, you and me,
Enjoying the view of Fewa Lake and Mt. Fishtail while boating
BIJAY
You missed one thing
CHANDIKA
What?
BIJAY
The Romance
CHANDIKA
Stop the nonsense!
In the meantime, Chandika sees BAUWA coming the way, cycling. The
chain breaks down. Bauwa stops his cycle. He sees Chandika and Bijay.
Chandika runs away without even seeing Bijay. Bijay rushes out to this
cycle and moves. Bauwa tries to act as if he has seen nothing. Both
Bijay and Chandika are gone. Bauwa is busy with his broken cycle
chain.
Bichari is walking in the middle of the paddy field and arrives at Jwala’s
courtyard. Bichari scans the courtyard for the perfect spot to install the
scarecrow. He sees Jwala taking a bath in the handpump. Bichari
ignores it and gets his job done. He looks towards the Jwala again.
Jwala is scrubbing her chest. We can see some sexual desire in
Bichari’s eye. He stars at Jwala. Jwala pours water into her body. Bichari
runs away from the field.
Bichari gets into his cottage running. He stops in front of the scarecrow
and looks at it from bottom to top. He slowly takes his hand to the face
of the scarecrow. He slowly touches the face and goes backside to the
scarecrow. His hand shifts to the scarecrow’s chest now. He starts
foreplaying the scarecrow.
BICHARI
I got a name for you! Jwala.
OLD MAN
Is this of our big brother BATTEKAJI?
OLD MAN
The ex-driver was from the eastern part of Nepal.
Where are you from?
HANSHA
Eastern itself. It's called JHAPA.
OLD MAN
You look like Rajesh Hamal.
Hansha smiles. The old man exits. Hansa goes to the back of the truck
where the kids are playing.
Hansa
Done dare to break anything!
Chandika is in the house. She looks for Jwala and goes towards Jwala’s
room. She opens the door and sees Jwala being dressed up in
Chandika’s old Saree. Jwala shudders seeing Chandika in her room.
Chandika smiles at her.
CHANDIKA
I would have got a new one for you if you had asked.
CHANDIKA
You look pretty. I will get a new one for you tomorrow.
Jwala looks happy. Chandika hands a packet of food that she brought
from the market.
CHANDIKA
Why is your hair so messy?
Come on, I will get it combed.
Chandika picks a comb and sits on a bed. Jwala sits on the ground near
Chandika. Chandika starts combing the hair. Jwala is enjoying the food.
Jwala is happy to see Chandika caring for her.
CHANDIKA
You look too pretty.
Jwala looks happy.
CHANDIKA
I Shall find a groom for you now!
Jwala denies it and she seems to be shy. Chandika looks at Jwala again.
CHANDIKA
or shall I get married?
The room is dimly lit. Chandika is trying to find a key to a room that
looks to be closed for ages. She finds the key and gets into the room.
Jwala can hear all the sounds Chandika is making. Jwala tries to sleep
but can’t.
DEVIKALA
What are you up to Chandika?
Can you manage to join me to harvest sugarcane?
CHANDIKA (O.S)
I am going to the market.
Wait a minute!
DEVIKALA
Done! Come to the field tomorrow!
CHANDIKA
There is everything in the house itself,
This is just for an emergency!
CHANDIKA
Get the house swiped once you are done here!
Chandika moves.
CHANDIKA
Go to Mr. Goberdhan’s house in the day!
He has invited us for the offering!
There are a number of people eating including Bhunte and his child
gang. Bauwa lies there in the same line. Jwala arrives at the house and
sits on the ground next to Bhunte. Bauwa points at the stool and asks
Jwala to take it.
BAUWA
Get that stool!
Some rituals are being practiced. Jwala looks at Bauwa. The performers
are gifting a cow to the priest.
JWALA
Why are they doing this?
Bauwa takes out a pencil and paper from the bag and hands it to Jwala.
BAUWA
Write the things! Whatever you want to ask! I will never get you.
Jwala starts writing and shows it to Bauwa. She has written, “Why is
the cow being served?”
BAUWA
It is the Hindu mythology; Vaitarani.
BAUWA
Do you remember? We did the same for your father too!
BAUWA
He was the only poet in this area. He was too close to me.
He always had a dream of recording his poem in the Voice of Mr. Rajesh
Hamal.
BAUWA
Do you know Mr. Rajesh Hamal?
BAUWA
Your father had written a poem expressing his happiness on your birth.
He sent it to Mr. Rajesh Hamal to recite and record.
He followed with the number of letters later on but was always
unanswered
I even suggested he go visit him in Kathmandu!
But what can a man do?
He left us early before he could fulfill his dream.
BAUWA
It is said that man’s desires need to get fulfilled to cross the Vaitarani.
I don’t know if he has his desires fulfilled if he has crossed the
Vaitarani!
Bauwa takes the notebook and the pen.
BAUWA
Let’s not focus on the past now,
You have the food and go home.
Bauwa goes toward his cycle. Jwala sees the priest taking the cow.
When she looks back at the food. A black dog is eating her food.
Jwala is walking on the road. She is a bit emotional. After walking for a
while, she stops and looks towards the empty huge field. There is
Shankar in the distance along with a wooden door. Shankar is looking
at Jwala. The door is opened. Shankar tries to throw a stone across the
door but it doesn’t get across and falls down near to Shankar himself.
He tries multiple times but the stone doesn’t go much further. Shankar
starts staring up into the sky.
Jwala is trying to find a key to Shankar's room (the closed room). She is
searching for it everywhere in the room. Finally, she finds a key and
opens the door. She is inside the room for the first time after ages. The
room is fully decorated with posters of Rajesh Hamal’s photos and
movie posters. Jwala glances at the posters.
SHANKAR (V/O)
How was the first day in your school dear,
What did you learn?
Nothing!
Come I will teach you!
She spots the flute nearby. Jwala goes near the flute.
SHANKAR (V/O)
Do you want to play it?
Jwala hands the flute and goes towards the bed to sit. Jwala starts
cleaning the flute.
SHANKAR (V/O)
There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of your flute.
Jwala smiles and blows the flute which does not sound good.
SHANKAR (V/O)
Can you find me?
Jwala goes towards the bunk of the dresses, selects the one, and wears
it. She now finds the Tunk in the corner of the room, opens it, and a
cassette player is there, brings it out, and plays it. We can hear a poem
in Shankar’s voice, it gets shut down in a few seconds. Jwala tries to on
it again. But it doesn’t. She tries to find batteries and other cassettes in
the trunk but she ends up finding a dairy. She opens the diary. On the
very first page, it is written “If my daughter ever had a voice it would
be as powerful as Rajesh Hamal”. Jwala turns to the next page. There is
a poem written entitled “The Birth of my daughter”. Jwala gets
emotional. She turns the page on. Jwala gets up and goes towards the
poster area where she finds the photos of her father as well and she
stares at those photos with eyes full of tears.
Jwala is somewhere around the house trimming her hair to the shorter
one she had during her childhood.
Jwala is in the temple with a newly cut hairstyle, carrying out the
Cassette player by her side. Bhunte along with other kids are playing in
the temple area. Everyone is amazed to see Jwala in her new look.
MAYA
Why did you cut the hair?
BIRKHE
You look so good.
BHUNTE
You look like the heroine, Karishma.
Bhunte smiles at Jwala. Birkhe notices the cassette player.
BIRKHE
Let's play music in your player and dance.
JWALA
It needs to get repaired.
Two street musicians are singing and playing Sarangi. Few people are
standing by the side and watching them play. The group of kids runs
towards the musicians. Bhunte and Jwala are in the shop. The
mechanic is repairing one radio, and Bhunte passes the player to the
mechanic.
BHUNTE
Uncle, please repair this one too.
MECHANIC
It will take some time,
You can leave it here and come back tomorrow!
BHUNTE
If you make it today, we will pay more!
MECHANIC
I need to finish the earlier one first.
MECHANIC
How?
KID
I don’t know how, please come fast
Jwala and Bhunte look at mechanic. The mechanic is about to close the
shop. Jwala snatches the player immediately and heads back.
Devi kala
She laughed.Devi kala felt awkward and gave work. Devikala, who was
waking up all the time, slowly ran away from the people.
Devikala
She looks at everyone and speaks All the houses in the village said that
Golly Star's shoes have been left.
Chandika
She spoke thoughtfully. Did Chandika say that she left them?
Debikala
She believes that she is from the forest. She said yes. She left the shoes and
went to one side of the house.
Calling Chandika Jwala! The woman of this district is looking at this.
saying that Devi kala has gone! The girl took you till the end of the day.
chandika looked at a glimpse of Devikala and looked at the flame. Then
devikala calms down after listening to Chandika's words
At that very moment, people wearing Maobadi dresses are holding and
thrashing a villager. At that time, a person looking over there says, "I'm
going to do something." Very visible
Jala Bhunte's Maya Gopu are also there, all four of them are smiling and
looking at Jwala, they say,
bhunte
When you met rajeshHamal, if he replied 'hey', don’t be exhausted and too
surprised. You must not be unconscious .'I'm doing this for you.
Maya
Hi, I look at Rajesh Hamal's eyes and look at him.
Gopu is on extereme thoughts.
Gopu
I am thinking what do the rajesh hamal eat . do he ate meal as us
Kumar says, look at the words that have been given to you!" My bicycle in
the mud, my walk! I have been watching that leaf bicycle ever since! Tulke
looks at Kumar and shakes his mouth saying yes with a smile.
Kumar looks at Tulke and says, "Kumaraja, look at me!" Tulke goes inside
Jla, Bhunte, Maya, Gopu also appeared behind .He looks at the flame and
says that it has been seen
Bhunte
I met Rajesh Hamal. By doing this sit l (Bhunte speaks while giving body
movements)
Everyone is smiling and Maya is speaking at the same time.
Maya
Hi, I look at Rajesh Hamal's eyes and look at him. Gopu speak with in
extereme thoughts .
Gopu
I thought, what does Rajesh Hamal eat? Oh, he eats rice.I asked that. Jwala is
happy to hear them. Kumar looks at Jwala and says.
Kumar
Don't skip watching the movie
They come. That man does not touch me after giving five rupees. Maya does
not touch me after giving money.If you have ten rupees, you will not enter
the house after rubbing five threads. Everyone looks at the group behind me
and says l
Kumar
I became a hero
Tulke looks at Kumar in surprise
Kumar
This question is given as a gift, Tulke! with my bicycle
My mouth is clean! That leaves the bicycle ever since! Tulke looks at Kumar
and shakes his mouth saying yes with a smile.
Kumar looks at Tulke and says, "Kumaraja, look at me!" Tulke goes inside
Sudden movie stops and kumar goes by checks the cassette and finds out
that there is a problem on it. He try to mends cassettes again and again
but couldn’t . Even the masses around tries to elevate it but they fails to do .
people starts to provoke him alike by saying
Kumar
What you did? It was already on good condition . on the way of making you
destroyed more
Kumar
It should be taken to maintance center or market . may not be possible to
mend from here
Al though we tried a lot
Always a same obstacle lets go from here and never returns on a shitty place
Kumar
Please have a patience and control your anger . I am trying best to mend it
so far. Its working . it will work
Kumar
Why in the need of money it will be replayed soon. It will work
Jwala
Kumar
I never know what you mean just move
Kumar
I may hit up this girl please move behind .
Jwala stands up and bring a stick that’s hanging near the door and starts to
eradicate him with a voice on silence. She starts to ask her money in return
Kumar
Its not easy for you to hit me. If you can do it ( he laugh at silence)
They starts to have a discuusion . and the tv that’s beside falls down with a
great noise .jwala had stick on her hand and after seeing those broken ceast.
She start to feel exhausted and ran away from there
Kumar
Once while a fighting saw hiding a like
Human
Human 3
Before there was a ritual of preaching blood ? why not to start
up of . needed to start off from today?
Human 4
In aggressive mood starts screaming whats the relation is ? better to kill off ?
where the house is ?
Human 1
Its already a late night where she might have gone? She may visit home
during night.
Human 2
I do have work in home. I am thinking to go. I don’t have
patience to wait her a like.
Chandika
The money that I lend from you I will return soon don’t worry
Chandika starts searching for a jwala .kumar even got stroke on a things like
a horror materialistic. Kumar becomes afraid of that and he leaves that place
by scrumbling. Ultimely by the huge efforts chandika finds jwala and she
even scold her badly .
Chandika
Who is this?
Bijay was there and starts to say it was he . he was carrying a bag . even
chandika starts to support reverse and starts to say how the late ongoing
tasks are ?
Bijaya
Bijaya
What about daughter?
Chandika
There will be fixation on tomorrow
Bijay
I will also be visiting to talk
Chandika remains silent and try to change the mode of talk by giving the
saree as a gift
Bijaya
This is for the daughter too he says by carrying out a box from his bag
They both hug each other for a while and he returns a back .
Kapaurey
Who send the letter to buwa ?