Director: Shanta Nepali
Country: Nepal
Language: Nepali
Year: 2026
Run Time: 29 mins
A Poetic Exploration of the Tharu Community’s Loss of Connection with Forests
The Tharu people, an indigenous community of the Chitwan region in Nepal’s Terai lowlands, proudly identify as "The People of the Forest." This immersive, dialogue-guided film follows Asma Ram Mahto, 84, as he navigates the growing thresholds between himself and the forest of his home. Once abundant, the forest now struggles to provide the plants and herbs that are central to Tharu food, medicine, and spiritual practices. Through poetic visuals and layered soundscapes, the film contrasts three interconnected worlds: the deep, beautiful forest & indigenous food system, the community’s shifting diets and health, and the growing rush of modernity.
Director’s Bio:
Shanta Nepali is a filmmaker, director, producer and cinematographer from Kathmandu, Nepal. Her films have screened at Cannes, Banff, and Tasveer, the U S based South Asian film festival. Her filmmaking is rooted in her own lived experiences, caste, and identity. She has made films for National Geographic, Discovery, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, BBC, and The New York Times, among others. Her documentary series, ‘Jaat Ko Prashna”—Question of Caste—was a finalist for the World Justice Project Award. Her short documentary Dhye Dreams (2023) received the John B. Oakes Award from Columbia University. She is founder of Shanta Nepali Productions, Shanta Foundation, and Women in Film Nepal.
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