Director Saroj Paudel’s second film Koshedhunga had a slow start but gradually attracted strong responses from viewers after a week of its release. Many expected it to enter its third week successfully before the protest halted its run.
The film was gaining momentum with increasing audience numbers and positive word of mouth when its screenings were disrupted due to the recent Gen-Z protest movement.
Saroj Paudel, who previously directed the record breaking film ‘Purnabahadurko Sarangi’ faced a similar situation during his debut. That film also started slowly but later drew massive audiences and became one of the highest grossing films in Nepali cinema history.
Koshedhunga appeared to be following the same trend before facing disruptions both in Nepal and abroad. According to the production team, the film was scheduled for release in theaters across the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, but screenings were blocked due to censorship issues in the Middle East.
The movie highlights the struggles of Nepali migrant workers in Gulf countries, focusing on their pain, sacrifices, and exploitation. Since its story is based on the concept of ‘blood money’, the team believes this might have been the reason behind the censorship.
Koshedhunga is set to return to theaters across Nepal. Director Paudel expressed optimism that the film will once again receive strong support from audiences nationwide.
