Official Selection

NIFF DOCS

Udeko Chara

00:14:00|Nepal

Director:

Luja Manandhar

Country:

Nepal

Film Duration:

00:14:00

Language:

Nepali

Screenwriter:

Nirveek Khatiwada, Luja Manandhar

Cast:

Shrava Shrestha, Binu Shrestha, Sarita Dongol

Synopsis

Shrava Shrestha, 38 years old, lives with her parents in Chabahil, Kathmandu, as she struggles her way through a stigmatized and misunderstood life with Down syndrome. Raised largely by her mother Binu, Shrava begins her pathway of self-expression through daily training, dance, and art. Yet, years of social exclusion and a lack of institutional support place her aspirations for a self-sufficient life under threat. Set against Nepal's limited awareness of intellectual disability, the film examines how care, patience, and belief challenge narrow definitions of ability within society.

Luja Director

Luja Manandhar

Director

Luja Manandhar is a Media Studies graduate from Kathmandu University School of Arts with a keen interest in learning and sharing stories of the people he meets in his daily life and work. He shares a strong interest in documentary practice and is drawn to quiet, observational moments that reveal how individuals move through and experience their environments. His storytelling often focuses on landscapes, public spaces, and lived experiences. Through his work, Luja seeks to document stories with sensitivity and patience, allowing everyday realities to unfold naturally before the camera. With an aim to create visuals that feel honest and grounded in real life, he wants to everyone to realize that every story is important as everyone is their own main character.

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