‘Dukhi Aatma’, a recently released Nepali movie, attempts to emphasise several social concerns simultaneously. Through the characters of Dayahang Rai (Chhewang Lama), Aanchal Sharma (Anamika Sharma), and Anup Biram Shahi (Jagannath), the film tackles issues such as erectile dysfunction, familial scrutiny, youth exodus from the country, and financial stress.

The starting scene of the movie shows Chhewang and his girlfriend Ranjana (Deeya Maskey), who’s leaving for the USA soon, celebrating their anniversary by cutting a cake and drinking wine afterwards, leading to the scene that reveals Chhewang’s inability to perform sexual intercourse. The movie revolves around his struggles as a poet and his many attempts to treat his ‘illness’.

Chhewang visits a doctor offering Korean medicine, which turns out to be a scam. He then tries oils and the help of tantra suggested by his friend Jagannath, before finally reaching out to a verified professional doctor.

The movie then takes us on a journey of an anthology of Chhewang’s poetry, titled ‘Dukhi Aatma’, getting published under Chandra Moktan’s (Buddhi Tamang) name. Moktan is a businessman who owns a carpet industry and doesn’t pay his employees on time.

Chhewang wrote 20 poems for Rs0.5 million, as he needed to pay off his parents’ debts and save money for his treatment and daily expenses.

A positive aspect of ‘Dukhi Aatma’ is that it encourages people to discuss sexual dysfunction. Until Chhewang confided in Anamika about his erectile dysfunction, he had struggled to find a resolution despite his many attempts.

His reluctance to speak about it hinders his chances of solving the problem he wishes to resolve quickly. Many of us can attest that individuals should take such cases seriously to avoid any undesirable repercussions. It is commendable that a Nepali film advocates for a subject like this.

However, the movie is not solely about that. As mentioned above, ‘Dukhi Aatma’ is created with the intention of producing a film that embodies all comedic, romantic, tragic, and social aspects, ultimately failing to successfully justify even one of these mentioned aspects. The film begins with laughter and jokes, but as time passes, there are only a few moments when you might find yourself laughing because it is actually funny.

As ‘Dukhi Aatma’ went on, it felt to me that the whole production of this movie was conducted in haste. If a film attempts to incorporate several subjects while it fails to keep the audience engaged, understood and hooked, it welcomes a high possibility of jeopardising its quality, and this movie does precisely that.

Moving on, there are also instances of verbal censorship, marked by an irritating beeping sound, which hinders the viewer’s ability to comprehend the dialogue. Similarly, some lip-syncs appear poorly coordinated with the video. That said, when the scene abruptly transitions to the music video, resulting in a completely different scenario, it suggests a lapse in directing.

For example, when the spark between two lovers is seen, a romantic song is usually introduced to create harmony, clarity, and synthesis between two separate scenes. But ‘Dukhi Aatma’, in an endeavour to do something unprecedented, leaves what has been regularly appreciated.

This movie, directed by Dipendra Lama, has provided a rigmarole of stories that could have been amusing if they had also worked harder on the ending. The climax goes against Chhewang’s character. He is depicted throughout the film as an anti-imperialist, patriotic, and innocent individual. Yet, at the very end, we observe his abrupt shift to the complete opposite of these traits. This feels absurd and unconvincing.

While the movie deserves credit for addressing a topic as rarely discussed as erectile dysfunction in Nepali cinema, its attempt to juggle comedy, romance, and social commentary ultimately weakens its impact. The abrupt transitions, lack of narrative focus, and technical inconsistencies make it feel rushed and unfinished. Despite these shortcomings, it remains a notable effort to push boundaries within Nepali filmmaking.

Overall, ‘Dukhi Aatma’ is an enjoyable film to watch. While you won’t miss anything significant if you choose not to see it, the film offers an intriguing glimpse into the evolving landscape of Nepali cinema and its efforts to explore unconventional themes.

Hada is a journalism student.

Dukhi Aatma

Director: Dipendra Lama

Casts: Dayahang Rai, Aanchal Sharma, Anup Bikram Shahi, Buddhi Tamang

Duration: 139 minutes

Language: Nepali

Available: In nearby cinemas

Year: 2025