In the winter of 2008, when former Indian president A P J Abdul Kalam visited Nepal to address the convocation of privately run Kathmandu University in Kavre district, it was hailed as a matter of pride for Nepal. And this year, when Nepal's President, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, attended the convocation of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, where he himself had been a student in the 1980s, it generated a fresh feeling of warmth and closeness between the two neighbouring countries.
Though diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu were established in 1947 after Indian achieved independence, more than six decades later, it is still the socio-cultural factor that brings the two nations close, bridging the divide arising due to politics.
This has been proved once again this week after Shyam Banagel flew to Kathmandu Thursday to formally inaugurate the Nepali alumni association of Film and Television Institute of India, in a year India is celebrating the 50th year of the pioneering institute. GraFTii Nepal, the Nepal chapter of graduates of FTII, has nearly 40 members, the oldest among them going back to 1966. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award recipient is addressing a three-day workshop on cinema from friday as well as attending the screening of his 2008 comedy, Welcome to Sajjanpur, on Friday. The programme is supported by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the B P Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.
Earlier this month, Nepal unreservedly welcomed another Indian visitor: film director Goutam Ghose whose "Moner Manush" won the Golden Peacock at the 41st International Indian Film Festival in Goa last year. At a mini film festival hosted by the Indian Cultural Centre and screening three of Ghose's films – Paar, Yatra and Moner Manush – cinemagoers, who included leading authors, journalists and actors, including Manisha Koirala, watched spell-bound, ignoring distractions like technical disruptions.
"This summer, India is also paying a tribute to Nepali and Nepali-origin maestros in film city Mumbai. Upcoming Nepali documentary maker Shekher Kharel's film, Rainbow over Mumbai", acknowledges the journey of seven Nepalis from struggle to success in various genres. They include glden-voiced singer Udit Narain Jha, saxophone player Manohari Singh who became the acclaimed arranger of music director R D Burman, artist Laxman Shrestha and Koirala herself.
For more
Though diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu were established in 1947 after Indian achieved independence, more than six decades later, it is still the socio-cultural factor that brings the two nations close, bridging the divide arising due to politics.
This has been proved once again this week after Shyam Banagel flew to Kathmandu Thursday to formally inaugurate the Nepali alumni association of Film and Television Institute of India, in a year India is celebrating the 50th year of the pioneering institute. GraFTii Nepal, the Nepal chapter of graduates of FTII, has nearly 40 members, the oldest among them going back to 1966. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award recipient is addressing a three-day workshop on cinema from friday as well as attending the screening of his 2008 comedy, Welcome to Sajjanpur, on Friday. The programme is supported by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the B P Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.
Earlier this month, Nepal unreservedly welcomed another Indian visitor: film director Goutam Ghose whose "Moner Manush" won the Golden Peacock at the 41st International Indian Film Festival in Goa last year. At a mini film festival hosted by the Indian Cultural Centre and screening three of Ghose's films – Paar, Yatra and Moner Manush – cinemagoers, who included leading authors, journalists and actors, including Manisha Koirala, watched spell-bound, ignoring distractions like technical disruptions.
"This summer, India is also paying a tribute to Nepali and Nepali-origin maestros in film city Mumbai. Upcoming Nepali documentary maker Shekher Kharel's film, Rainbow over Mumbai", acknowledges the journey of seven Nepalis from struggle to success in various genres. They include glden-voiced singer Udit Narain Jha, saxophone player Manohari Singh who became the acclaimed arranger of music director R D Burman, artist Laxman Shrestha and Koirala herself.
For more
