First-ever Nepali film to be released in Bangladesh

For the first time, a Nepali film titled Missing: The Beginning of Keti Harayeko is set to be released in theaters across Bangladesh.

Directed by Dipendra Gauchan, the film will premiere on July 18 at Star Cineplex. The film has been imported under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) by ShowMotion Limited. In exchange, the Bangladeshi film No Dorai, directed by Tanim Rahman Anshu and starring Sariful Razz and Sunerah Binte Kamal, will be released in Nepal.

Following its release in Nepal, Missing received critical acclaim and sparked widespread discussion. The lead roles are played by Srishti Shrestha and Nazir Hussain. The nearly 2-hour-40-minute film revolves around a tale of love and misunderstanding involving an abduction. After meeting on a dating app, a young woman is kidnapped by a man and taken to Nepal’s Madhesh Province. Although initially terrified, a bond eventually forms between them, leading to friendship and love. The film beautifully portrays the natural landscapes of Nepal’s Terai region, local culture, and the everyday lives of its people.

According to a press release, the film will be screened at Star Cineplex branches across Dhaka and other cities. The premiere show will be held on the evening of July 18 at Star Cineplex Center Point (Airport branch). The event will be attended by the Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, the film’s director, producer, cast and crew, as well as the director and actors of No Dorai.

Previously, in 2023, the release of an Indian film under the SAFTA agreement paved the way for cross-border film exchanges in the subcontinent. Now, for the first time, a Nepali film is entering Bangladeshi cinemas, marking a new chapter in cultural exchange between the two neighboring countries.