Kathmandu, Jan. 26 -- For every film review, my work begins with scribbling notes in dark cinema halls. I sit through the films as alert as I can be, ignoring my fellow filmgoers, their giggles, phone calls and popcorn crunches. But when I'm walking out of the theatre, I'm nervous about having to comment on the same issues, over and over again for every review!

Last week, I watched Garud Puran and this film is another in the long list of carelessly-written, badly-acted, casually misogynistic films I've reviewed.

My notes for the film read: "similarity in plot design--the redundant 'briefcase full of money' trope; useless overloading of characters--many of them unnecessary; horrible treatment of female characters--borderline misogyny; ze...