Zhigrana

Plot

Christine Summers (Hanna Geschewski) has been working in an NGO in Nepal for the past four years. Her boss assigns her to do a last mission in Ruku to collect information of the life outside of the cities, before she leaves for the United States. Leaving for the mission with her crew and her guide; they take shelter in a small village called Zhigrana; an area known for a killer on the loose who sacrifices humans in the name of Kaal Panchami, a mythical ghost.

When they start to turn against each other regarding a death of a friend and with no one to trust: it is now up to Christine to figure out who the killer is. Is it the ghost of Kaal Panchami or is the truth even stranger than that?

Cast

Hanna Geschewski: This is Hanna's first feature and debut acting. She is of a German background. She is fluent in Nepali and has also sung one song in the movie. She plays Christine, an American living in Nepal in an NGO called Sano Paila for the past four years who can speak fluently in Nepali. She is the head team leader and she will be going back in after her last mission.

Shanti Giri Shanti Giri is a theater actor. She has played in movies such as Fitkiri, Ahdyaya etc. She plays Shreeya, a role of a team doctor for the NGO Sano Paila. Her character is the best friend of Hanna's and has sister Smriti working for the same NGO. She is very superstitious and protective of her sister.

Jyoti Karki: This is Jyoti Karki's first movie in a leading role. He plays Ram, a Guide that takes the responsibility of taking the NGO team to the mission and back. He had just been released from prison for the alleged murder of his wife's love partner.

Nikun Shrestha: Nikun Shrestha is a well-known Club DJ in Kathmandu, Nepal. He got his first break in the movie "Chadke" the most revenue grossing movie in a single weekend in the history of Nepali Cinema. Nikun plays Roger, half Spanish and half Nepali, who is a videogrpher by profession and takes all the footages for the NGO. He is also in relationship with another character Maya but also has a side relationship with another character Smriti.

Menuka Pradhan: Menuka Pradhan is a theater actor. She has played in movies like Visa Girl, Ek Din Ek Raat, and Vigilante etc. She is known for the hit song Jaalma from the movie Resham Filili. Menuka plays Maya, who takes all interviews of people, data of the villages they visit. Maya is also in love with Roger despite of his unfaithfulness in the past. Menuka was nominated for best supporting actress for NEFTA awards 2015.

Deewakar Piya: Dewaaker plays BK, the most comedic role in the movie. His character doesn't take anything seriously and plays as the coordinator of the NGO team.

Bina Pandey: Bina is Make-up Artist by profession. She plays a character of Smriti who plays a nurse in the NGO. She is also Shreeyas sister and in sexual relationship with Roger.

Arun Regmi: Arun Regmi is the most veteran actor in this movie. He has played a lot of movies in the past and is also a production Manager by profession. Arun plays Baaje, a grandpa who lives in the village of Zhigrana with his grandson in the past. His character is also an exorcist who makes sacrifices for spirits to go away.

Production

Production began October 2013. The cast and crew went to shoot for 32 working days. The movie was shot in Rupa Lake close to Pokhara, the highway to Pokhara and Kathmandu. The set of village Zhigrana built in Rupa lake was one of the biggest sets built in Nepali film Industry. The art director "Prakaash Chandwadkar" was nominated for best Art Direction in NEFTA awards 2015. The Post Production went on for about a year. The entire sound of movie was done in a very well-known studio in Bombay called the Mukta Arts Studio.

Release

Zhigrana was released in March 6, 2015. It was very well received by the viewers and the critics. It brought new audience to the Nepali film Industry and after watching the movie viewers saying Nepalese movies are getting better and reaching new heights with good original stories.

Controversy

The Censor Board of Nepal removed an intimate scene between Roger and Maya from the movie Zhigrana. After removing they were still given an A certificate. The production company Golden Yak Entertainment was unsatisfied why the movie was being given an A certificate when all the Adult scenes were taken out. Later Golden Yak released the intimate scene on YouTube.

Awards and nominations

Zhigrana won two National Awards out of seven for best cinematography and best editing. Zhigrana also won best screenplay from NEFTA awards.

Soundtrack