Jhola becomes successful in portraying the story of most evil custom of Nepal, ‘Sati Pratha’ in a pleasing way. When new age Nepali cinema is characterized by glitzy packaging and fancy camera tricks, this sorrowful tale showing the cruel and inhuman practice of Sati in Nepal has broken many hearts and filled many eyes with tears.

Although the Sati system was abolished decades ago, Jhola is still relevant to today’s Nepal where, unfortunately, cases of sexual harassment, violence against women, trafficking remain all too common. The film may not be technically sound or perfectly enacted, but it succeeds in leaving an impact and inspiring viewers to take a stance.

Based on the well known writer Krishna Dharabasi’s novel, the movie also depicts the relationship between a mother and son beautifully. Director Yadavkumar Bhattarai presents each character with beauty and all the characters must be applauded for their outstanding performance. At the start, I felt there were few amateurish acts, but soon the movie takes rhythm and as the lead actors comes into action, the movie comes to life. Garima Panta performs an outstanding act and so was Laxmi Giri and other actors. Child actor, Sujal Nepal performed a breathtaking act to make all the audiences cry at moments.

The film begins in 1958 B.S. in Kathmandu, when an old man called Ghanashyam (Sujal Nepal) leaves his bag for a night at the writer’s home. As Dharabasi starts reading, story takes him to Nepal of the 18th century. We are introduced to a young Ghanashyam who lives with his mother Kanchi (Garima Panta) and his old, sick father (Desh Bhakta Khanal). After her husband passes away, Kanchi’s life becomes a nightmare. Expected to sacrifice herself on the funeral pyre, Kanchi enters almost a daze like state and goes from being a strong-willed, loving mother to a helpless widow. As she prepares herself for the ceremony and Ghanashyam comes to terms with being orphaned, the anguish of both mother and son becomes palpable on screen. While expertly depicting the pain of the protagonists, director Yadav Kumar Bhattarai also explores the tender relationship between a mother and a son, which imbibes the movie with a soul.