EKLO: The Sci-Fi Thriller Putting Nepalese Cinema on the Global Stage

EKLO – Part I (a Nepalese word meaning ‘alone’) made its historic debut at this year’s recently concluded Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film, placing Nepal on the map for the first time as an exciting film destination. The film, directed by British-Nepalese sci-fi thriller Pradeep Shahi, is the first sci-fi thriller to come out of Nepal, and it marks the country’s first time having an official delegation representing the future of the Nepalese film industry. 

The Story Begins in the Year 2090

A virus has wiped out most of humanity sixty years ago, and Nepal’s Himalayan region has become one of the last human outposts on Earth. When a reconnaissance mission goes awry, a British space agency astronaut (Jamie Bacon from “White Lines” and “Brighton”) and his partner (newcomer Kabita Nepali) crash-land and, to their surprise, they discover a hidden city carved into mountain caves.

There, they meet a mysterious guru-guardian played by Pradeep Khadka (the “Prem Geet” films), who leads them into a dark kingdom where zombie-like humans are kept prisoner. What starts as a survival story becomes something much stranger and more dangerous.

“I set the film’s apocalypse in Nepal specifically to attract global audiences. My strategy was using this setting to draw international attention while showcasing our culture.”

Actor Jamie Bacon and Director Pradeep Shahi

That’s exactly what he’s done. EKLO takes ancient Hindu prophecy and throws it into a post-apocalyptic future, creating something that feels both deeply rooted in Nepalese culture and completely universal. The film asks big questions about what happens when civilization collapses – and whether it can be reborn.

The technical work is impressive too. Shahi and his team employed a combination of practical and digital effects to create visuals that no Nepalese film had attempted before. Shot across the actual Himalayan landscape, the film looks stunning and feels authentic.

What Critics Are Saying and What’s Next

“This represents a watershed moment for South Asian genre filmmaking,” one critic noted. “Shahi has crafted a post-apocalyptic narrative that feels both culturally authentic and universally compelling.”

The film has already built a following back home in Nepal, and international distributors are paying attention. That’s rare for a Nepalese production, but EKLO isn’t your typical Nepalese production.

The film is in post-production now and should be finished by August 2025. Shy Productions is looking for international distribution partners for what’s planned as a trilogy. A global release is set for late 2025.

Industry insiders are already calling EKLO a potential game-changer for Nepalese cinema. If they’re right, this could be the film that opens doors for a whole new generation of filmmakers from Nepal who want to tell stories that go beyond borders.

The success proves what Shahi believed all along: “Nepalese films have the potential to inspire and influence global audiences.”