‘The Mask’ to compete for Oscar

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Artistic Mukundo (Mask of Desire) is definitely the best film after the breathtaking Caravan to represent the country at the Oscars.

Not just that it ran to housefull at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival today, but for director Tsering Rhitar Sherpa’s guts to gamble with a new concept in Nepali film making.

The best thing that Tsering is commendable for is that, he has come up, probably for the first ever from a Nepali director, with a movie that can stand shoulder to shoulder in an international feature film competition category. Mukundo, hence, has also opened a new dimension to producing quality films on home grounds by local movie-makers.

Unlike the picturesque Dolpo mountains in Caravan, Mukundo does not bear the appealing scenic beauty to grasp Western viewers. But, forgetting a few scenes of Patan Durbar square, it best represents the lifestyle of a semi-urbane lower-class Nepali family.

Another thing noteworthy is the way Tsering has been able to pick up a topic from a news article, a true incident, and made it into a movie. And, the camera work is simply great.

Mukundo, is a story revolving more on love, jealousy and hatred, rather than the shamanistic ambivalence depicted in its promos.

Actors Rattan Subedi, Gauri Malla and Mithila Sharma have done justice to their roles. Out of them, Subedi has definitely carved a place for himself away from his regular roles as a comedian.

However, Mukundo seems a little laid back on it’s sub-titles. Despite the fact that the original script of Mukundo was actually written in English, the sub-titles are a little weak. It fails to portray the pathos as much as in the Nepali dialogues.

The most extraordinary approach adopted by Tsering, is definitely the movie’s ending which is likely to confuse the viewers.

On the other hand, Mukundo raises a lot of debate and discussions by the time it ends. And, probably, that is exactly the best reason why it deserves a well round of applause.

Locals lament destruction of bridges

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KALIKOT, Dec 3 - People are seen outraged after the Maoist insurgents destroyed the bridges over the Karnali river causing damages worth millions of rupees and adversely affecting the local people.

They destroyed the bridges although they repeatedly claimed themselves, since the very beginning of their war about five years ago, that they were against the state government, not against the construction and development works.

"What damage did we, the common people, cause to the Maoists? The bridges were not used by the government’s police and army alone. They can use helicopters if they want. After all, the bridges are used by the common people. How long can the Maoist workers do politics by damaging the facilities of the people?" a farmer from Kerwada VDC gave vent to his feelings on condition of anonymity.

Chhatra Bahadur Bista of Kotwada VDC complains that he felt very sad at the loss of the bridges because he was deprived of the convenience that he would get once in his lifetime, during the marriage ceremony of his son. He said the marriage party returned from the river bank as it was not possible to cross the river due to lack of bridges. " What can be more hurting than this?, After all, the government has never broken any bridge" he added.

"Our business depends mainly on the people living in 17 VDCs across the river. The volume of trade had declined considerably after the Maoist activities. It has now come to a complete halt

After the bridges have been destroyed, Handra Prasad Poudel, a businessman from Kailali who has come to Kalikot for business purpose said.

The postal service has been closed here following the demolition of the bridges. Letters sent through post offices are lying in the godown for the last four days and they will not be dispatched until the bridges are rebuilt or until additional employees are recruited to carry letters through the longer routes, chief of Kalikot District Post Office Dipak Koirala said.

The government has deputed a joint team of the Suspension Bidge Division and the Remote Area Development Committee to address the difficult problems being faced by the people. The team will conduct a survey of the damaged bridge and formulate a long-term plan in this regard. Engineers of the team assigned to carry out the task reached the site on Sunday and started their work.

Mayor distributes certificates to women

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) distributed certificates to four dozen women who had received training in handicrafts, clock repair and sewing.

These women were trained in two groups by social worker volenteers in handicraft making, floral arrangements, repairing clocks, candles making and sewing.

The training was free of charge to the women so that even poorers could begin working at home to supplement the income of their husbands or other working members of the family or if not be the sole earner to support the family.

"We are hopeful that after receiving the training from us it would help them boost their self-confidence and stand on their own feet," said coordinator of the training program Shashi Pradhan, a women rights activist and social worker.

She said the programs like this would strengthen the women in our society to be able to compete and complement with the men folks in society.

Also present on the occasion was former minister Prakash Man Singh who also distributed the certificates.

Magars meet to provide information for census

KATHMANDU, Dec 3 (PR)-Members of Magar community from more than 50 districts assembled in the capital to participate in National training camp to generate awareness for the purpose of providing correct information during the National Census 2001.

As per the directives of the National Census Commission, every individual will need to mention his mother tongue, religion, caste among other necessary information in the census form.

The three day training camp was jointly organized by Nepal Magar Association, Magar Society and National Census Committee, started on Saturday.

During the discussion session, representatives from various districts were given instructions on providing correct information during the forthcoming census enumeration exercise.

Manthali bus service resumes

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MANTHALI, Dec 3 - The Kathmandu-Manthali bus service, which was disrupted after the flooded Khimti river posed a threat to the vehicles plying there, resumed on Sunday after a lapse of more than five months.

The Araniko Transport Service Committee has decided to operate eight passenger buses daily from Kathmandu to Manthali.

The committee had operated the bus service in the winter last year. The service was closed after it was felt that the flooded river posed a threat to the diversion.

Public pressure was mounting on the bus transport committee to operate the bus service after the Division Roads Office Charikot built a diversion over the Khimti river and cleaned the mud road up to Manthali.

An officer in the committee, Ram Saran Kharel, said buses will operate regularly on the road until the monsoon begins.