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The grand world premiere of the film Jaar, which is set to release publicly on Baisakh 26 (May 8), was successfully held in Sikkim.
The premiere, hosted at Vajra World in Gangtok, Sikkim, was attended by prominent personalities from various sectors, including film professionals representing the Nepali film industry in Sikkim.
To attend the premiere, a team from Nepal led by director Phurba Chiring Lama, including actors Saugat Malla and Anup Bikram Shahi, arrived in Sikkim. The 700-seat Vajra Hall was packed with invited guests. Due to personal reasons, actress Geetanjali Thapa could not attend the premiere of her own film.
After watching the film, local audiences responded with high praise. For a few hours, viewers were transported into the history of their own society, leaving many emotional and others excited.
The audience applauded the performances, direction, cinematography, background music (BGM), and VFX. Singer and composer Jhuma Limbu’s music was especially appreciated, and the acting debut of newcomer Sushmita Bhujel was warmly received.
Director Samten Bhutia stated that the film, based on a story by veteran writer Indra Bahadur Rai, has done full justice to the original literary work. According to him, Jaar showcases authentic Nepali elements and excels in acting, direction, and technical aspects. “In many films, it’s hard to sense the director’s presence, but in this film, the director’s touch is felt in every scene.
The strength of this good film lies there. Even in lengthy scenes with no dialogue, the director holds the audience’s attention — Nepali cinema has found a truly creative filmmaker,” he said.
Veteran actor Uttam Pradhan congratulated the entire team, describing the film as excellent. He spent time praising both the performances and direction and added that Jaar is a must-watch for any Nepali viewer wanting to understand their society’s past.
Director Phurba Lama, actress Geetanjali, and actors Saugat and Anup Bikram emerged as the audience’s favorites. After the screening, many waited in line to take photos and selfies with them.
One scene that captured everyone’s attention was the VFX-created tiger, produced with a significant budget. When the highly realistic scene appeared on screen, the audience responded with whistles and applause.
Director Phurba Chiring Lama said the response exceeded his expectations, and that the audience appreciated some of the creative risks and experiments taken in the film. “Just like an athlete reflects after the game, I too am thrilled by the audience’s feedback. I’m happy that years of hard work are being recognized,” he said.
Actors Saugat and Anup Bikram also expressed satisfaction with the reaction they received while watching the film with the Sikkimese audience. They believe that the audience will immortalize this film, just like the immortal story by IB Rai on which it is based.
The premiere was graced by Sikkim’s Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Rajkumari Thapa, as the chief guest. Also in attendance were Sikkim Police Chief Akshay Sachdeva, Lok Sabha member Indrahang Subba, Chief Minister’s political advisor Jacob Khaling, Sikkim government spokesperson Karma Subba, Secretary to the CM SD Dhakal, as well as Nepali film producer Sushma Gurung, director Samten Bhutia, Prashant Rasaili, actor Uttam Pradhan, and other notable figures.
Following the Sikkim premiere, the second premiere is scheduled for May 3 in Siliguri. After completing promotional events in Darjeeling on Thursday, the Jaar team will head to Siliguri.
The film, shot by Saravanan Elavarasu, is edited by Akhilesh Rai. Executive producers include Trilochan Pandey, Neeraj Rai, Nursang Bhutia, Jyoti Kshetri, and Pema Rinzing Lepcha. The film was produced through the collaboration of Hope Reels, LA Seven Shorts, Baral Studio, and Kiwa Production.
