PLEASANT - Highway to Dhampus

“The best thing in the life is to change.”

photo courtesy:
www.facebook.com/highwaytodhampus

“We look at the sky but we walk on the ground”, says Laxmi to Ajit. She has desires but she is happy and content with whatever she has in the present. The simple, yet complex elements of life such as love, happiness, compassion and gratefulness are the things that Highway to Dhampus has captured wonderfully.

Elizabeth, a rich socialite trying to change her image visits an orphanage in a village in Nepal with Colt, a photo journalist and Ajit, a sincere helpful pilot cum guide cum translator. Laxmi is a headmistress of the orphanage. With their several meetings onwards, they get connected to each others. The series of events then show how they change – change for the better.

Everyone has the ability to change; life is dynamic and changes are bound to happen. Highway to Dhampus is the tale of ‘change’ – how a person can evolve with the emotions.

It gradually builds up the pace and maintains it throughout the movie. It sails smoothly. Director Rick McFarland has done a very fine job in presenting the story in such a heart-warming way. The movie carries a warm theme that gets close to the base reality of life. The silent love between Ajit and Laxmi is quick but nice. The scenes with a kid Prabhujee are pleasant. The sentiments in Colt and the change in Elizabeth are understandable. Few humorous scenes and few emotional ones have shared the presence.

The cinematography is enthralling. It is not all bright and vibrant but fits right for the theme of a movie. Location can be tagged virgin. Beautiful village with that fascinating Mt. Fishtail on background pleases ones’ eyes for sure. Kathmandu is shown all dirty and polluted, except for the Pashupatinath.

The music  (Sam Cordon) – WOW! It is very much pleasurable to ears to hear such a beautiful music on background. It is soothing and compliments the movie just right.

The characterization might have been more deep and strong. What has been shown is good but with more detail, it would have been better. The dialogues in Nepali could have been more practical rather than all formal. May be it is because of being a Nepali that I can’t help myself from ignoring the so-much-formal conversations that could have been given a casual touch. It is however justifiable with the accent and tone while speaking English - given the remote setting of a movie (especially for characters Laxmi and Mahendra).

Performances are good. The growth as an actor in Raj Ballav Koirala is incredible enough. He has performed his part with an ease. Rachel Hurd-wood and Gunner Wright are both good in their respective roles. Suesha Rana seemed a bit awkward initially but is nice overall, for the part she was given. Deshbhakta Khanal is okay. Sayush Gurung Bajracharya – kid (Prabhujee) is good.

Highway to Dhampus, a tale of change in life and human emotions, is a good movie that makes a pleasant watch. Simple, quiet and filled with emotions. A very NICE one.

It felt really good to see an independent English movie set completely in Nepal with such a nice story and a beautiful music and cinematography. There is a full national anthem too, sung by children. So much Nepali feel.

P.S. It’s an independent feature film. It has a touch of insightfulness and perspectives of a life. So, there is no drama and stuff.