Exclusive ‘Herne Katha’ film being showcased in the UK

London – SOAS, University of London, with its research project Heritage as Placemaking in collaboration with Urban Arhat and the Critical Himalayan Collective about invited to a film screening of Herne Katha’s latest film: The Years Lost.

The film was well attended, with 250 tickets handed out for the event, also featuring two London-based British/Nepali musicians, Kanti Gurung and Saugaat Gurung, as well as a British/Nepali filmmaker Niraj Lamgade.

Bidhya Chapagain and Kamal Kumar arrived early in the morning of the 4th May at 6:30am at Heathrow Airport due to delays with the teams visa application. This was Herne Katha’s first overseas venture which has been enabled through a collaboration of Herne Katha with both the research project: ‘Heritage as Placemaking’ who generously supported the visit and the filming project of Herne Katha in the UK with its Outreach and Engagement fund and the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC) who invited Bidhya and Kamal to present the annual lecture during the Nepal Study Days in Edinburgh (13th-14th May 2024).

The full Herne Katha research and film crew will return to the UK in June or July to start filming on two, possibly three Herne Katha stories based in the UK diaspora engaging with the Gurkha Heritage of the UK based diaspora telling also stories of young British people of Nepali heritage.

The SOAS event was remarkable in giving ample time for and inclusive Q&A. The questions of two of the youngest members of the audience (who could not have been older than around 8 or 9 years and had come with their families) stood out – one asking how the team finds its stories. Bidhya Chapagain answered the new generation in English with the greatest sincerity and in great detail.

The Herne Katha team was asked if the team stayed in touch and knew how the protagonists of their films were doing? Bidhya answered that the Herne Katha team considers the characters to be family – spending so much time together filming and living through the emotional journeys of their stories forms bonds that continue. ‘Herne Katha,’ they explained ‘is a family.’

How Herne Katha came to the UK ?

 Dr. Stefanie Lotter (SOAS) and Dr Uma Pradhan (UCL) hosted a research panel on Nepal Studies in July 2023 at the Social Science Baha’s Celebration of Prof Michael Hutt. At the time Bidhya Chapagain explained Herne Katha’s plan to visit the UK, US, Middle East and Portugal to film stories of Nepali diaspora. Being awarded a grant from the outreach and engagement fund of Heritage as Placemaking and having flight tickets paid by the BNAC this journey to the UK was made possible.

‘Herne Katha’ at Aldershot

On Sunday, ‘Herne Katha’ team showcased the film, The Years Lost, at the Empire Hall. The event, organised in cooperation with the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) UK Chapter, was attended by ex-Gurkhas, their families and other community members from far and wide. Bidhya and Kamal answered questions from the audience after the film show. They thanked the Nepali community for their love and appreciation to Herne Katha. President of FNJ UK, Dhruba Raj Aryal, welcomed the audience while Advisor of FNJ UK, Bhagirath Yogi, thanked the audience as well as sponsors and all those who supported the event.

Launched nearly six-year-ago, the Herne Katha team has already produced 120 documentaries telling the extraordinary stories of ordinary Nepali people.

Herne Katha is a documentary film team who produce personal heartfelt stories from Nepal freely available on you tube. The team recently received a golden button from You tube signifying over 1 million subscribers. Herne Katha will be screening their latest film to the public at Ashford on 9th May, on Edinburgh 13th May, and in Manchester 16th May. Members of the public can also propose stories to be filmed to Bidhya and Kamal –  the makers of Herne Katha.