Director Kharel Says "Art, Literature & Media are Two Sides of Same Coin "

Madhab Raj Kharel_ Film Director

Kathmandu- Madhab Raj Kharel is not a new name in the Nepali Film Industry. He has been active in this field for more than 19 years and he is also involved in novel writing. Kharel has the ability to present any creation in simple way. This is how the critics judge him.

Kharel begin his acting career in 2056 B.S. by performing on street dramas organized by the Pariwartan Nepal. He considers the script writer, Director and the founder of Pariwartan Nepal, Mohan Niroula as his role model. We can see many famous artists of Nepal under the guidance and instructions of Niroula.

Every individual's struggles in their life to go ahead or to have progress in life. The struggle helps to move ahead in life. Following their principles kharel struggled a lot in his life beginning days like other legendary artists to establish.

The nation was severely affected by insurgency in one side and on other side, the art field was negatively affected like other fields. The making of cinema or cinema making and creative arts was almost at null stage and the work related to the public awareness were discouraged by the government. Kharel continue his works by performing on street dramas along with his friends even during that time. Kharel remember that government had made strict observation over their public awareness programs or events.

He got established in the television field by producing the program “Cine Darpan” in one of the local television channels. He wrote the script and directed the program himself. He has recorded his name in Guinness book of world record as the program organizer by organizing the program at the highest altitude. Likewise, Dil Krishna Shrestha is busy as the actor and the producer.

Madhab Raj Kharel entered in the telefilm industry by writing and directing the teleserial “kasto yo jeevan” produced by Roshan Budhathoki during the insurgency period and the revolutions by political parties. The serial got stopped after the short duration with the change in the management of television channel and the end of the monarchy system in Nepal. After the serial was halted Khareal and his team got depressed but he continued his work by writing and directing the teleserial “ Kasur”.

Shree Media Search And Movie Maker pvt.ltd established in 2064 b.s (now named media and entertainment pvt.ltd.) produced the movie “ Dhunge Yug” to show the beginning of human civilization . It was the silent movie and the experimental movie and it received appreciations from the film industry. The movie helped kharel to be established as a director there wasn’t any dialogue in the movie. Though it is not officially recognized or considered as the first silent movie in the history of Nepal, the people from the Nepali film industry believe it as the first silent movie.

The movie was written and directed by Kharel and the money raised by the charity shows of the movie was used in establishing the office for the Film journalist association's branch office in Makawanpur district of Nepal. Kharel and his company produced films as well as different films with the co-ordination of the government. Among them, he made the documentary film about building the earthquake resistant houses with the help of department of city development and building construction. Likewise, he produced the documentaries “Destination Shey Phoksundo”, “Kushwesor Mahadev” and different informative documentaries related to the conservation. Similarly, he has written and directed more than one dozen of documentaries made by different organizations. Out of them, the documentary titled “Nyaya Ko Parkhaima Doramba and madi” made by the Human Rights academic group which was based on the incidents of Doramba and Madi where both the Royal Nepal Army now called Nepal Army and Maoist violated the human rights. Likewise the organization of the free human rights activists named Difri produced the Maithali language film “Hewai Karait Bhor” (bihanai pakkai hunchha” about the situation of human rights after the madesh moment. The film was of 100 minutes long duration and it was also telecasted by Nepal television.

Kharel has worked in the documentary film “ save the Monkey’ produced by the wild life watch group and other documentary film about the right of the children and women made by the organization karuna Nepal, Naari Chetansil Nepal and Maitriya Foundation Nepal . He also worked in the documentary films made by siraha district development committee and municipality, chhatiban V.D.C and Dapcha Kashikhanda Municipality and more than one dozens of both government and non-government organizations. Kharel hasn’t limited his work only in the documentary films, he has expanded his works even in the film industry. He has written directed “dhunge Yug”, “Dhunge Yug-2”,” Birano Maya,” “Kuineto” and “ Durgamandu”. Among them “kuineto” and “Dhunge Yug-2” are ready for the release. So we can say Kharel is one of the best director in Nepali Film Industry.  

Durgamandu is the famous novel in the literature field right now. It is also written by Madhab Raj Kharel. The experience while writing novel was not new and difficult for kharel as he had already written for five films and more than a dozen of documentary films. And he has already established in writing.

Durgamnadu novel based on the violence on women especially in far western part of Nepal is presented in simple language. Chhaupadi (the system where women are kept in the cave or separate areas,) single women, women affected by the witch system have been strongly presented in the novel.  Kharel says that it is not only the creative art, it is the testimony of realistic things.

Madhab Raj Kharel has been also writing lyrics for songs. He has written more than two dozens of songs. one of his song “ Mero Desh ko Jhanda “ ( flag of my country) based on the patriotism was awarded the best song by Music Khabar music Award 2014 and kharel was awarded as the best lyricist for the song. He has been also awarded as the best Director D-cine Award 2010 (Film Stone Era), Model Songs (INAAS UAE) Award 2018 (Film Birano Maya), NCIFF Award 2018(International Film festival, Film Durgamandu ) and Best Music video director for the song "K Diyau ra" Music Khabar music Award 2015, “Dhoka ta didai dinna” Sundaradevi Sandesh Bagmati Lok Dohori Award 2015, "Bijhaudo rahechha" Sagarmatha music Award 2018, "Mayale Polyo"Sundaradevi Sandesh Music Award 2018 . Beside this, Kharel has been honored by ICT Journalism Forum, Maitriya Foundation, Jana aakash Media, National Cultural Association, in to the Himalayan and Geetkar Sangh for his contribution in the fields of art, literature, film media and music.

Kharel is the versatile person with the multiple talents in different fields. He is a film director, writer, music video director, media person and an actor. His performance can be seen in several films and music videos. He has acted in the films, “Timi Jaha Vaya Pane”, “Fulai Fulko Mausam Timilai”, “Birano Maya”, “Three Monkeys” and “lal Jodi” and some of the films are yet to be released. Kharel has worked in television as the program producer and program host and director. He has been running Power News monthly Newspaper and Nationalpowernews.com online portal. Kharel says that it is not easy to get established. He adds that it needs the great labor and struggle to have the achievements. He also says that we should work more to keep ourselves busy. He believes that art, literature and media are two sides of same coin. He feels happy and satisfied being involved in this field.

Besides working in the field of art, literature, music and media, he is also distributing awards to the people contributing in education sector and music sector by organizing the national Power News education Award and Music Award to motivate them.

He has been striving or struggling with the pen and the camera to discover and promote the culture, civilization, society and tradition from the eastern part of Nepal’s Olangchug Gola or Durgamandu village of the far western part of Nepal. Even the lonely tiger get chased by the group of foxes, similarly kharel’s appreciable works have been ignored by the section of the people who believe in being popular and getting popularity by publishing and investing money. So, he is struggling as the Jupiter planet standing alone.

Isn’t it the tragic and unfortunate things for the creative person to get unnoticed? Isn’t it unfair for the talented person to be over shadowed like being under the dim light of a lamp?

Madhab Raj Kharel (Film Director/ Writer)

Madhab Raj Kharel (Film Director/ Writer)

Madhab Raj Kharel (Film Director/ Writer)