Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Nepali Film 'Shakti' Highlights Women's Rights and Caste Equity
A new movie called 'Shakti' tells the story of a mother and her daughter in Nepal.
The mother, Durga, works as a sanitation worker in a hospital, and her daughter, Lila, is a talented nine-year-old who faces abuse.
The movie shows how women, especially those from lower castes, face many challenges and discrimination.
The director, Nani Sahra Walker, wants to show how important it is to make changes in laws and society to protect women and children.
She chose to make a fictional movie to keep real survivors safe.
The movie also talks about a law in Nepal that says survivors of abuse have to report it within a certain time, which the director thinks needs to be changed to help more people get justice.
Nepali-American filmmaker Nani Sahra Walker's debut feature 'Shakti' addresses women's rights and caste equity in Nepal.
The film follows a single mother, Durga, and her nine-year-old daughter, Lila, who faces abuse, highlighting caste-based discrimination and gender-based violence.
Walker chose a fictional narrative to protect the privacy of real abuse survivors while addressing the emotional reality of their experiences.
The film touches on a controversial legal provision in Nepal regarding the statute of limitations for reporting sexual violence.
Walker believes Nepal is at a pivotal moment where leaders can prioritize women's rights and caste equity for structural change.
- Who
- Nani Sahra Walker, a Nepali-American filmmaker, and the characters Durga and Lila
- What
- The film 'Shakti' addresses women's rights, caste equity, and gender-based violence in Nepal
- When
- The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India
- Where
- The film is set in Nepal and was screened in India
- Why
- To highlight the urgent need for addressing violence against women and children in the region
- Director
- Nani Sahra Walker
- Film Title
- Shakti
- Main Characters
- Durga (Laxmi Bardewa) and Lila (Polina Oli)
- Screening Event
- International Film Festival of India
- Controversial Legal Provision
- Statute of limitations for reporting sexual violence
- Director's Oscar Win
- Best Documentary Short for 'The Last Repair Shop' (2024)
- Film Format
- Fictional narrative
- Film's Focus
- Caste-based discrimination, gender-based violence, social apathy, and corruption