LOS ANGELES, CA (6/19/2023) – Some of the most critically acclaimed actors in Nepal, including Najir Husen, Sanchita Luitel, and Bishal Pahari, have joined the cast of the country’s contentious yet highly anticipated first transgender subject feature film, ‘Gunyo Cholo: Coming of Age of a Girl’. Leading actor Najir portrays Gulabi, the sole male progeny of a patriarchal and austere Army General (Retired). He is being groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps to launch a career in the military. As a young boy, Gulabi struggles to understand his identity. Furious and deeply humiliated, his traditional father discovers his son’s aspirations to become a transgender woman, rejecting him from the family’s home and village. To survive, much to his sorrow, he has no alternative but to lead a life of dancing and prostitution in the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal. 

(When a Nepali girl reaches the age of seven or eight, she is given a “gunyo cholo” to wear. This ancient costume, which comprises a cholo (top/blouse) and a sari-like skirt, as well as jewelry, is known as a Gunyo Cholo and symbolizes the girl’s transition into womanhood).

This heartfelt trans story is directed by native Nepalese female Writer/Director Samundra Bhatta, Produced by Aakash Budhathoki and award-winning V. Vansay Zanubon of Colorado, USA. “Vzion Entertainment” (USA) has joined forces with Nepali production company “The Sky Ocean Entertainment” to bring the film to a worldwide audience.

Producer V. Vansay Zanubon’s Statement:

“I love great stories, and I was genuinely touched after seeing the first rough cut, which moved me to tears. This is a heartfelt, genuine transgender story that everyone should experience; I’m sure that it will move you as it did me, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with a wide audience.”

Award winning music composer Marcello De Francisci, has come on board to score the film. Marcello has composed and produced music for an array of motion picture soundtrack scores including the ‘Drums of Victory’ for Alexander Payne’s five-time Academy Award-nominated film ‘Nebraska,’ Natalie Portman’s first Western genre film ‘Jane Got A Gun’ co-starring Ewan McGregor, and Joe Edgerton, in addition, acclaimed feature documentary ‘Samsara’, the sequel to ‘Baraka’. Marcello joined forces with world-renowned singer Lisa Gerrard (‘Dead Can Dance’) band member & Golden Globe winner for co-composing with Academy Award winning composer, Hans Zimmer, the score to Ridley Scott’s, ‘Gladiator.’

The film was shot entirely in beautiful and picturesque Nepal with its breath-taking terraced farmlands to panoramic snow-covered soaring Himalayan peaks. The producers and director are handling post-production in the United States and Canada. The film is currently in post-production and will be released to a global audience in early 2024.