Scheduled for a nationwide release on Magh 9 (January 23, 2026), the film Bigul was designed to be a loud call against political corruption. However, before it could even hit the screens in Sunsari, the film itself became a victim of the very “patronage and moral decay” it sought to critique. In a bizarre twist of fate, a film written and produced by a prominent political leader Dinesh Koirala of the Nepali Congress reportedly faced informal blocks in the East, allegedly orchestrated by his own faction.
The Film Profile: A Call to Revolt
Bigul is a high-stakes political social drama directed by Ramesh Koirala. It centers on the abuse of power and the awakening of citizens against an entrenched political class.
- Written/Produced by: Dinesh Koirala (NC Leader)
- The Powerhouse Cast: Benisha Hamal, Naren Khadka, Saroj Khanal, Nir Shah, and Ramesh Budhathoki.
- The Music: Composed by Bishwa Prakash Sharma (NC General Secretary), Arjun Pokhrel, and Manoj Chaulagai.
The Sunsari Standoff: Facts vs. Implied Pressure
What We Know
- The Postponement: Local exhibitors in Sunsari district halted scheduled screenings after promotional tours were already underway.
- The “Request”: Reports suggest that political “pressure” or “requests” linked to Dinesh Koirala’s faction led to these cancellations. The irony is sharp: the producer’s political identity is reportedly being used to silence his own creative work due to fears of “misrepresentation.”
- Informal Censorship: Unlike a legal ban by the Censor Board, this is a case of informal gatekeeping, where local leaders use their influence to bypass the law.
Power Dynamics: Winners & Losers
| Stakeholder | Impact | Role |
| Political Factions | Benefit: Avoid immediate embarrassment or intra-party backlash. | The Gatekeepers |
| Bigul Production Team | Loss: Sunk promotional costs, lost revenue, and a chilling effect on future projects. | The Victims |
| Cinema Hall Owners | Loss: Lost ticket sales and caught in a crossfire between business and safety. | The Intermediaries |
| The Public | Loss: Denied access to a legally cleared film and a space for political debate. | The Silenced |
Ground Reality: The Phone Call Censorship
In districts like Sunsari, hall owners often operate on thin margins. They are highly vulnerable to local political networks.
- Contract vs. Conflict: A simple phone call from a central leader can force a “voluntary” postponement. For a business owner, the risk of vandalism or local boycotts far outweighs the potential revenue from a single film.
- Narrative Control: This incident highlights a hierarchy where Political Leadership > Artistic Freedom. It reveals that even when a film is made by an “insider,” it can be blocked if it empowers a rival narrative or critiques a specific faction too accurately.
Future Outlook: A Template for the Future?
The Bigul episode could go one of two ways over the next 12–36 months:
- The Risk Scenario: This becomes a template. Local power brokers from all parties start “vetting” films before they allow screenings in their constituencies, leading to deep self-censorship by filmmakers.
- The Reform Scenario: The controversy prompts a legal challenge or a public campaign that affirms: Cinema halls cannot be bullied into pulling legally cleared films.
Join the Conversation!
Should political leaders have the “right” to request changes to a film if they feel it misrepresents them, or is this a dangerous step toward total censorship?
- Is Bigul a brave critique of the system or just a tool for intra-party rivalry?
- Would you still watch a movie if you knew local leaders were trying to hide it?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
