Kathmandu, Actress Aanchal Sharma received a truly special birthday gift this year. The teaser of her upcoming film Ek Mutthi Badal was released on the occasion of her birthday, making the moment doubly meaningful for both the actress and the film's production team.
The teaser is built around a poem titled "Pompoi Ko Phool," recited by Aanchal herself, and the verses weave through the visual introduction of the film's cast and world. The poem, it turns out, carries a quiet and deeply personal origin.
Writer and director Sahara Sharma shares that the poem is drawn from a fading childhood memory. She had heard verses of a similar nature from her grandmother long ago, and had nearly forgotten them entirely. But during the editing process of the film, the poem surfaced again in her memory at precisely the moment the film needed it most. "It came back at the time the film needed it the most," Sahara said. "Since then, this poem has become an inseparable part of the cinema."
Aanchal Sharma: Playing Herself
For Aanchal, this film occupies a place unlike any other in her career. "In other films, I play someone else. But in this film, Maili is me," she said. "The satisfaction of being able to bring my own life to the screen is something I cannot put into words. This film is incredibly special to me."
Her words hint at a deeply autobiographical quality to the story, and a level of personal investment that goes well beyond a typical acting assignment.
A Film Led by Women
Ek Mutthi Badal stands out not only for its story but for its production structure. Nearly every major creative department on the film is led by a woman, making it a quietly significant landmark in Nepali cinema's ongoing conversation about gender representation behind the camera.
The film is directed by Sahara Sharma and produced by Abhimanyu Dikshit, with Nikun Shrestha as executive producer. The production team also includes German producer Sara Fazilat, along with Samipya Raj Timilsena and Anup Paudel.
The technical team features cinematography by Linh Dan Nguyen Phan, production design by Yashasvi Sabharwal, editing by Gaurav Mallik, art direction by Agrani Thakuri Jha, costume design by Janaki Kadayat, and makeup by Kirti Joshi. Chief assistant director Marna James is supported by Sharmila Ale and Meera Khadka.
The cast includes Aanchal Sharma alongside Nisha Sharma, Usha Rajak, Bhima Mainali, Asmita Gautam, Shekhar Chapagain, Manish Niraula, Sahayog Adhikari, Gaurav Bisht, and Aviralpartap Adhikari, among others.
The film is a joint production by Gauthali Entertainment and Man Production, and will be distributed in Nepal by RR Films.
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