Loonibha's back

KATHMANDU, April 24: The quintessential character she portrayed on the Nepali small screen made her a household name. “Pawankali” a.k.a “Loonibha Tuladhar” takes on a new identity apart from that of a successful theatre actor and a TV host.



Her documentary, “The Spinner of flights” was premiered at the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) 2011 on Saturday.[break]



Tuladhar was excited to see her film being premiered at the festival. Her 20 minute documentary in Newari with English subtitles tells the story of Meera Sthapit, 50, a spindle maker. “I was very touched by her life. She’s my aunt but besides that it’s her perseverance that inspires me. I have never seen her cry.”



The charming actor further explained, “She wasn’t able to attend school because she had polio, but she never gave up.” Through interviews and depiction of her childhood, Tuladhar has recreated Sthapit’s struggles in the documentary.



She plans to make a feature film someday but mentions she has a lot to in terms of homework. Having worked as an actor for the past 11 years, she looks back amused. “Time has just passed by but I have grown in so many ways. Ah! I was just 17 when I started. ”







In the past years she has worked in more than a dozen plays; “Adhyaro birudhha”, “Chiriyeko Sash”, “Charandash Chor”, “Paathshala” to name a few. Last month, she toured Chitwan and Pokhara with her play “Ani K Bho”.



“I enjoy doing theatre best. There is no screen to cut you away from the audience. You can connect with each one in the audience personally.”



She left for India to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts and Dramatics in 2006 when her popularity as the host of “The Pawankali Show” was at its peak. But she came back soon.



“I felt I had nothing new to learn. I already had enough experience as an actor.” She was disappointed that the producers had arranged for someone else to host the show without her permission. “My ego stopped me from coming back to the show.” After all, the show was her concept, her vision.



The actor is now happily married and will soon be seen in a new avatar every week on Terai Television.



The show is called “Platform Ma Pahuna” and will go on air from Jestha. Loonibha will be enacting different roles reflecting the celebrities she will interview every week. The first guest will be her all time favorite actor Rajesh Hamal.

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