Cheli Beti (Nepali: चेली बेटी, translation: Daughters or Girls) is a 1990 Nepalese social drama film written and directed by Yadav Kharel. Produced under the banner of Udaya Films, the film features an ensemble cast including Gauri Malla, Sharmila Malla, Arjun Jung Shahi, Mithila Sharma, Neer Shah, Basundhara Bhusal, Harihar Sharma, and Tika Pahari.
The film addresses the critical social issue of human trafficking of young Nepalese women into forced prostitution in India, and the subsequent social stigma they face upon returning home. Released on April 11, 1990, the film is considered a landmark in Nepalese cinema for its realistic and bold commentary on structural social evils during the early era of the industry.
Contents
Plot
The narrative of Cheli Beti centers on the criminal network of cross-border human trafficking between rural Nepal and urban India. Vulnerable and innocent young women from impoverished villages are lured under the pretext of false marriages or job opportunities, only to be abducted, transported across the border, and sold into brothels in Indian metropolitan cities.
The core of the movie chronicles the psychological and physical horrors endured by these women in captivity. After surviving and eventually escaping their captors, they return to Nepal seeking refuge. However, instead of finding familial acceptance and structural rehabilitation, they are met with ostracization, legal hurdles, and deep-seated social stigma from their own communities, highlighting the difficult realities of rehabilitation and societal reintegration in 1990s Nepal.
Cast
The film features the following ensemble cast:
Gauri Malla
Sharmila Malla
Arjun Jung Shahi
Mithila Sharma
Neer Shah as Neer Bikram Shah
Basundhara Bhusal
Harihar Sharma
Madan Das Shrestha
Tika Pahari
Santosh Pant
Ashok Sharma
Ramchandra Adhikari
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was composed by Shambhujeet Baskota, with veteran composer Natikaji contributing a guest composition. The lyrics were written by the director, Yadav Kharel. The playback singing ensemble featured prominent South Asian vocalists.
Production and release
The film was produced by Pradeep Kumar Udaya and Yadav Kharel under the private banner Udaya Films. Veteran filmmaker Laxminath Sharma handled the technical screenplay and dialogue, while Madhukar Basnet served as the editor. The film holds a total runtime of 138 minutes and was officially released in theatrical halls across Nepal on April 11, 1990.