How did reading and writing contribute to your becoming a filmmaker?

I wouldn’t say that reading is solely responsible for nudging me towards my film career. However, books and cinema do share a very basic premise: that you have a story to communicate to your audience. Reading helps you enhance your

imaginative skills, and a good book can teach you how to draw up strong characters—and strong characters make for a strong film.

What books have most influenced you the most?

I have been mostly influenced by my family, friends, and even cinema, but when it comes to books, as of right now, I can remember three:  First off, Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl. I think it’s common knowledge now, but the book does truly inspires you in such beautiful ways. Not only does the book make you appreciate life, family, and relationships, but I also learned, through Anne, that when writing something, being true to yourself is what matters most. Inspired by her diary, I have learned to not restrict myself with thoughts about how my audience is going to react—at least when I’m on my first draft.

Then there’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. I love the book; I love the cinematic adaptation too, and I will work really hard, and hopefully be able to give Nepali audiences at least one film in the coming-of-age genre that the book is a part of.  And finally, Shirish ko Phool, by Parijat. I love this book for so many reasons. First, I love the fact that it’s a book about a woman written by a woman. Second, I find her imagery very powerful; and third, Parijat is great at holding the reader’s attention throughout. The book is absolutely spellbinding.

Where do you prefer to read and what genres do you like?

I like reading while travelling—I guess I like being able to look up from my reading once in a while and see the world whizzing by me. I do not really have a specific genre that I prefer: my friend Cilla Khatry will buy the books she thinks I should read, and I quietly obey.

Was Chasing Rainbows inspired by any book?

No it wasn’t. But The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, might have influenced my storytelling, in terms of allowing me to not adhere to the traditional standards of having a neat beginning, climax and an end. And my film does not have the typical hero vs villain struggle.

Do you think the art of reading a book will ever be replaced by more modern forms of entertainment?

It would be sad if such a day did come about. I really hope it doesn’t happen. Paper may be replaced by digital media; for example, I read on my tablet many of the books that I don’t find elsewhere. But I don’t think videos, or audio books, or even films, can replace paperback.

What kind of books do you think can help people in their professions?

If you are talking about books on how to make cinema, I have refrained from consulting them. These books, according to me, set a standard, and I as a student might feel compelled to work according to their standards and restrict myself creatively. We as filmmakers have this liberty to do or say what we want and reading a ‘how to’ book could prevent us from stretching our wings. That said, I do strongly advocate for the reading of fictional work because they help you to conceive plots and develop characters—a must if you want to make good films.

Who are your favourite writers? And why?

I like Virginia Woolf because she deals with the issues regarding women so confidently. I hope to make films that are as poised and as inspirational for young women as A Room Of One’s Own was for me. I love RK Narayan too.  A lot of my childhood memories are attached to Narayan’s stories. Because I spent a lot of time away from home, his books were like Grandma’s tales to me. I still read and watch Malgudi Days when I feel sad or low. And, of course, JD Salinger.  The Catcher in the Rye has influenced me in terms of filmmaking: it taught me that you should be true to yourself, and true to your feelings, and not be restricted in any manner whatsoever.

Any bad reading habits that you have?

I don’t really put in the effort to go and shop for books. I tend to take for granted that Cilla will find the right books for me, and she does. Every time she meets me, she hands over like six or seven books, all very carefully searched for and selected according to my taste. Also, if I like a book, I usually finish the entire book at one sitting, and then I regret that I finished the book so fast. But then after the reading, I tend to linger over the characters and the plot and irritate all my friends by talking about the book for days.

What is the advantage of being both a journalist and a filmmaker?

Journalism helped me become a good communicator. I learned to not just communicate my ideas but to understand other people’s too. Because I used to write feature stories, I have this tendency to focus on the minutest details of my characters. For a director, it is these minute details that contribute towards strengthening the characters in a movie, which in the end gets the audience more engaged.