Someone who is an avid movie watcher, I don’t find myself enjoying Nepali films. Then, however, I came upon this film entirely based on the reality of Nepalese politics in the past. And, to my surprise, it piqued my interest. The film ‘TalkaJung vs Tulke,’ subtle or not, says quite a bit about the politics at the local and macro levels.
Furthermore, this film is a must-see in my opinion since it depicts a scenario that is virtually identical to what people have gone through in real life. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the synopsis and subjective reasoning that follows the film’s completion.
Synopsis of ‘TalkaJung vs Tulke’
The protagonist of the movie, Tulke (Khagendra Lamichhane), is a man of character who displays a range of emotions throughout the film. He works as a day laborer in a community set among the mountains. At the beginning of the movie, we can see how triggered he gets when people call him “tulke,” which gives us an impression of his dislike for the term he has. However, as the movie progresses, we understand him as a nobody who the villagers perceive as hopeless.
He refers to himself as “babu saheb,” believing himself to be the only genuine one to transform the village, unlike the real babu saheb and his family. His bad blood toward this family is tied to the story since they are notorious for trashing people’s properties, including the hero’s ancestors. And this instilled such a sense of aggression in him; in summary, the film depicts the protagonist’s anger and frustration with feudalism.
As viewers, we can connect the dots between such scenes in the film. In the end, Tulke, the protagonist, longed to reclaim his identity. In the midst of the village’s so-called dependable family’s tricky and monkey business, the power-hunger for him grew. Despite his naiveté about everything, he chose to join the communist team. It was because he saw how he could gain from them, just as he had while he was in the city with Shaggy (Dayahang Rai).
Will The Movie Change Our View Regarding Politics?
TalkaJung vs Tulke did not influence my political ideas while examining the country’s context. However, it is necessary to comprehend what politics entails. As a result, it refers to the activity that involves parties debating for authority to govern a country. It has always been about elevating someone’s status or gaining control within an organization.
However, I’ve had a different impression of it. The situation shown in the film concerning revolutionary groups is based on a true story that occurred in the country. Many residents were subjected to torture and death in the name of progress. Those who were hailed as “saviors” were the ones who committed the crimes.
Similarly, many of my friends and family had to suffer the consequences of speaking out against their acts. My granny always told me stories about them and the things they’ve done. This led me to believe that politics in this country is nothing more than subjugating others while serving one’s own interests.
What is Grassroot Politics?
TalkaJung vs Tulke, directed by Nischal Basnet, tells how urban life deceives him and teaches him how to amass and seek power. This film contains a few components of grassroots politics, which I will describe.
Grassroots politics refers to rallying individuals at the local level to expand the reach of a political party or its beliefs. The influence is usually begotten at the central level or by top-level representatives. They use monetary or asset incentives and rhetoric to dominate the movement at the grassroots level. Even spreading their supporters and carrying out the party program so that the political movement at the grassroots level conforms to the political party’s needs.
It could be anything from influencing community leaders or entrepreneurs to persuading residents to vote a certain way in an election that favors a specific party. They can persuade locals to support specific parties, either financially or by employing the appropriate staff to deliver party messages. Again, this activity could be voluntary or forceful.
In this movie, armed and violent grassroots politics is shown. So put, grassroots politics, in my opinion, is the process of forming human chains at the grassroots level. So, for example, to support a particular political philosophy or party and mobilizing them to expand the scope of influence.
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