SANN News
KATHMANDU: Nepali filmmaker Raj Sargam, whose real name is Raj Kumar Lamichhane, is set to present his film project Gaadee: The Sacred Place at an international film pitching event in Russia on November 12.
The event, titled Cinema as a Tool for Fighting Futureshock, will take place at the National Centre “Russia” as part of the third international symposium Creating the Future, scheduled for November 12–13.
The pitching programme will bring together young filmmakers from around the world to present projects that explore how concerns and fears about the future can be transformed into positive visions. A total of 17 applications were received from international filmmakers, with selected projects invited to present their work at the symposium. Nepal’s Raj Sargam is among the shortlisted participants.
Sargam’s project, Gaadee: The Sacred Place, explores the relationship between cultural traditions, gender equality and the future of society through the story of Bhawani, a 16-year-old girl from a village in Nepal.
The film follows Bhawani as she begins experiencing unexplained physical tremors, forcing her to question established beliefs surrounding faith, gender roles and cultural identity. In a society where spiritual and secular authority is largely controlled by men, she struggles to take control of her own destiny.
The film raises a broader social question: Can communities challenge long-standing traditions without losing their cultural identity?
One of the film’s symbolic moments involves a man carrying Bhawani on his shoulders, a gesture traditionally associated with carrying shamans in Nepali culture. The scene reflects the film’s central message that achieving equality does not necessarily require abandoning cultural traditions.
Sargam said concerns about gender equality, inherited social norms and the freedom to question established beliefs inspired him to develop the project.
He said the film explores whether cultural traditions can become more inclusive while retaining their meaning and whether societies can preserve their spiritual heritage while granting women equal dignity and recognition.
The Creating the Future symposium serves as an international platform for developing positive visions of the future and exploring ways to turn them into reality. It is organised under Russia’s Decade of Science and Technology, with support from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The first edition of the symposium was held from November 4 to 6, 2024, bringing together more than 6,000 participants from 101 countries, including government representatives, scientists, engineers, futurists, public figures and creative industry professionals.
Sargam’s participation is expected to provide an opportunity to showcase a Nepali film project on an international platform. The pitching event is open to the public through advance registration on the organisers’ website.
