Nepal, Jan. 1 -- For Nepali film industry, 2024 was an encouraging year, both on the mainstream and arthouse fronts. Some films led by actors who were previously limited to supporting roles became runaway hits while a few arthouse-oriented films made an impressive presence in world cinema.

Perhaps the highlight of Nepal's year in cinema is 'Purna Bahadur Ko Sarangi'. Directed by Saroj Poudel, the film told the story of a Dalit father, a travelling minstrel by profession, who goes to great lengths to secure a bright future for his son.

Though the film might have come across as a tad too melodramatic for some, it was a tearjerker for many. It brought to screens the vanishing profession of travelling minstrels, and the poverty and caste di...