The music launch of the Nepal’s first animated feature film, The Legend of Shankhadhar (Shankhadhar Ye Bakhaa), took place amid a function in Capital on Sunday. The movie, based on the life of the historic figure Shankhadhar Sakhwa—the founder of the Nepal Sambhat calendar—slated for release in 2018.

In what was an unique event, the music video was launched simultaneously in Nepal, the UK, the US and Australia through a video chat with the creator of the feature Sanyukta Shrestha.

“We heard the story of Shankhadhar Sakhwa as children. I just tried to give life to the folklore that we have known for a long time,” said the animator and producer of the movie, Shrestha. He further added that the introduction of the animation features in the Nepali movie industry will provide it with new opportunities and open doors for the creation of more animated

movies in the future.

Speaking at the release, eminent historian Satya Mohan Joshi lauded the efforts by YantraKala, the group behind the project. “Sakhwa is an important historical figure for Nepal. This movie will help make his contributions relevant to the up and coming generations,” he said.

The movie will trace the life of Sakhwa who is believed to have paid off the debts of the people in the Kathmandu Valley after he stumbled upon an accidental fortune. According to legends, the Nepal Sambat began to commemorate the saint-like gesture, with historical documents referring to the subsequent years as “the year after all debts were paid.”

The bilingual movie will be released in both Nepal Bhasa and Nepali, along with English subtitles. It was also revealed that artist Suraj Bajracharya will be voicing the lead character Sakhwa in the animation. The soundtrack of the movie has been provided by UK-based Nepali musicians Bishwo Shahi and Ganga Thapa.  Nisha Desar lent her voice for the released song, Dyo Hey Kha.