Trailer of our first Nepali co-production

Nepali actors Umesh Ghorsaini and Reecha Palikhe star in Nagarjuna, Hulhevi Media's first co-production with Nepal's Chhaproma Studios. Written by Al, the screenplay was originally based in the Maldives and intended to have a Maldivian cas,t but the film never materialised. Now completed the short film will form part of a trilogy called Chhaproma which will hopefully premier this year.

Check out the trailer here:

Nepali actors play Maldivian characters in short film

Umesh stands on the edge of Kakani top, Nepal, in this image-grab from a film originally meant to be shot in the Maldives.

Hulhevi Media are collaborating with Chhaproma, a Nepali production house, to make a short film based on the Maldivian script. Al, who wrote the original screenplay with Narcu, has adapted it to a Nepali setting with the help of Rajan and Kshitiz of Chhaproma.

The story follows a day in the life of a young man, Ram, who claims it is his last day on earth, and invites his ex-girlfriend Zena and buddy Baucha to spend the last hours with him.

Although two Maldivians auditioned for the part of Ram (called Maz in the Maldivian version) along with two others for the roles of Baucha (Hamd in the Maldivian screenplay) and Zena, respectively, the film never got made in the Maldives because circumstances simply didn't allow it.

This is the first production in which Al will just help the DOP, Shail, instead of photographing the film himself. Dipesh is the producer and Rajan is directing.

Al and his Nepali team have just completed a hectic shooting schedule, including a non-stop eight hour stint on Kakani top.

The Nepali actors have given intense performances and the film should be completed some time in May. More image grabs and, hopefully, YouTube clips will follow.

Hulhevi in the Himalaya

Hulhevi Media has a special relationship with Nepal. We've shot two of our productions in the Nepal Himalaya, Himalayan Dreams (2006) and the four part TV series Maldivians on Mountains (2010). Himalayan Dreams and an earlier documentary Unbelievable Realities (2003) have both been officially selected at international film festivals in Nepal. In continuing with the trend 75 percent of the Hulhevi Team were in Nepal in the New Year trekking in the Langtan Gosaikund area. This is Shaari's first visit to Nepal, the Himalaya, and an altitude of over 4,000 metres. Here in the pic he and Narcu, who trekked to Kala Pattar in 2009, pause to catch their breath in the beautiful alpine forest above Dunche. They were joined on the trek by Al, who is currently living in Nepal. Hulhevi is exploring joint productions with Nepali filmmakers, including one on global warming which may be causing sea-level rise in the Maldives and glacial melting in the Himalaya.