As a viewer of ‘Tito Satya’ and ‘Meri Bassai’, I have never missed any movie from the entire ‘Chhakka Panja’ series. This time, even though other films, ‘Jwai Saab’ and ‘12 Gaun’, were alluring, my loyalty compelled me to choose ‘Chhakka Panja 5’.

Directed by Deepa Shree Niraula, the film continues the series’ tradition of blending humour with social satire. Akin to its predecessors, ‘Chhakka Panja 5’ focuses on social issues, and this time it revolves around corruption.

As is the norm, we see Deepak Raj Giri in the lead, named Prithivi. He is a government employee. Prithivi's father claims they are descended from the lineage of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, which leads him to consider himself royalty proudly. This belief acts as a catalyst in forming Prithvi’s stone-like ideologies and patriotism. From Prithivi’s childhood, his father taught him to carry the legacy of the Shah king and be a man of good deeds to serve the nation.

Consequently, Prithvi works hard, studies well and becomes a Government officer. He is honest and strives to work for the betterment of society and lessen corruption. In a country ranked 108th out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index, it's uncommon to find a government officer who is honest in their work. In this movie, Prithvi is depicted as one of those rare officers.

Fighting corruption does him more harm than good. Prithvi is sandwiched between following the path of corrupt officers and standing strong in his ideologies and virtues. I must say, the movie does an excellent job of depicting the societal and family pressures faced by a government officer with no access to illicit income.

Through persuasion and coaxing from Lami (Kedar Ghimire), the owner of a marriage-arranging agency, Roshani (Barsha Siwakoti) ends up marrying Prithvi. The character of Roshani, Prithvi’s love interest, raises some concerns. Her portrayal as a woman lacking agency feels reductive, especially as she is subtly pressured into marrying Prithvi. Roshani wants to live her life abroad. On the other hand, Prithvi is quite the opposite. His patriotic ideologies stop him from leaving his motherland.

Roshani could exert her agency and get married to anyone she is interested in, but she does not do anything. This raises questions about the intentionality behind her characterisation. Is it a reflection of societal norms or a missed opportunity for more nuanced storytelling?

In the movie, Roshani is made fun of by other married women solely because her husband, a government officer, stands firmly against corruption. This ironic situation reflects a broader critique of Nepali society, where wealth, fame, and power are highly valued, regardless of the unethical means used to obtain them.

Prithvi’s efforts to uphold integrity are met with societal disdain, and those characters who exploit corruption for personal gain are celebrated for their wealth and status. The normalisation of corruption is so pervasive that being an honest officer like Prithvi is seen as an anomaly, and their moral stance is viewed as a weakness rather than a virtue. The film’s portrayal of corruption mirrors this sad reality. In this context, ‘Chhakka Panja 5’ deserves praise for its honest depiction of this societal reality.

Talking about the performances, the actors have delivered well. The dialogues, one-liners, and delivery are powerful and up to the mark.

While Kedar Ghimire’s comedic talent shines, the humour falls flat compared to other movies in the series. The desolate comedy led to moments that seemed like a social studies lesson on corruption. Interestingly, Aryan Sigdel’s cameo, where he appeared dressed as Prithvi Narayan Shah, drew the loudest audience reaction with clapping and whistling, far more than any other scene in the movie.

While it’s true that ‘Chhakka Panja 5’ delivers a strong social message, as a drama-comedy, I found the dramatic elements well-executed, but the comedy fell short of my expectations. I hoped for the laughter that hurt your stomach, but that didn’t happen.

It’s undeniable that middle-aged audiences appreciate the humour and find the themes relatable. However, from the perspective of younger viewers like myself, ‘Chhakka Panja 5’ is underwhelming.

Moreover, the themes of social issues, though relevant, feel recycled at this point. The audience has already been exposed to similar narratives in the earlier films, which makes the social satire feel less fresh and impactful. To move beyond the typical social satire, experimenting with new and contemporary topics such as digital addiction or mental health and using a comedy-thriller or comedy-mystery format could have provided more excitement.

Interestingly, the film attempts to incorporate AI into its narrative to enhance Prithvi’s photo and woo Roshani for marriage. This creative idea could have been explored further to invigorate the storyline. Audiences have grown accustomed to seeing older lead actors like Giri paired with much younger heroines. Why not feature older female actors romancing younger male leads for a refreshing change?

Just like consuming too much sugar turns it bitter, Giri’s performances, though commendable, are beginning to feel repetitive as he constantly plays the lead. Adding variety to the casting could breathe new life into the series and make it more engaging.

‘Chhakka Panja 5’ songs, while undeniably entertaining and catchy, fall short in terms of social responsibility and progressive messaging. A line of the song ‘Bihe Bhako Chhaina’ “Dhan sampati navaekana ramri keti paaidaina,” (Without wealth, one cannot get a beautiful girl) perpetuates harmful stereotypes about relationships and societal values. It suggests that property is a prerequisite for a man to secure a good marriage. Such messaging perpetuates the commodification of women and suggests that love and marriage are transactional.

At this point, I am wondering, was Chhakka Panja 5 worth the watch? I rate this movie 2 out of 5.

Chhakka Panja 5

Director: Deepa Shree Niraula

Cast: Deepak Raj Giri, Kedar Prasad Ghimire, Barsha Siwakoti

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Year: 2024

Language: Nepali