The love between Bahun and Gurungseni is the new flavor that 'Oonko Sweeter' tries to give. The different cultural diversity and beauty reflects a society that is stuck in co-existence.
Where is the war fought in all love? All love cannot even have the power to cross the walls of society. Caught up in struggles and challenges, the love of some may have remained incomplete, but the love of some may have been embraced without breaking the walls of family and society.
In the film 'Oonko Sweeter', there is no big battle for love, the lovers do not cross the boundaries of society. In that sense, the story of this film is not about winners and losers in love, but about lovers standing in the middle. The story of the film is as sweet as a flower, the love that blooms even among thorns is shown here. The film has tried to tell this different dimension of love in an honest manner.
Dharnidhar Kafle (Vipin Karki) lives near Bensi, Phool Gurung (Miruna Magar) near the lake. Geography moved the paddy field to Dharani, the potato to the lake of flowers. One day, while going up to the lake to collect potato seeds, Dharani's eyes met with flowers. Now Dharani-Bamra starts looking for many excuses to look at this flower blooming in the fog of the lake. So, under the pretense of going to Mitba to get potatoes, this beetle leaves the net and flies towards the lake. When the dream of becoming one from their own worlds becomes a reality, it becomes a thorn between the grass and the flower, society-family and responsibility!
The story of the film is the Lek-Bensi relationship shown through the love story between Dharani and Phool. A different cultural beauty and a love waiting at the border. As the story of love unfolds, the film touches on horrific caste discrimination, the struggles of single mothers and migration. There is also the sadness of love being separated between responsibilities.
Director Naveen Chauhan has told the story of the old generation (Dharani and Phool) through the love between young generation Dumbar (Alex Vishwakarma) and Ichha Angdembe (Pariksha Limbu). The film brings to many 'nostalgias' including the custom of filling autos, the bustle of fairs, the days of reel photography and the charm of duet dances performed to Nepali songs. However, to enter into the original story, director Chauhan has spent a long time on the love story between Dumbar and Ichha. The film is very confused about the wave that the arranged marriage will bring to the friendship of Dumbar and Misek (Suraj Tamu), from Mangena. If this story was shortened, the audience would have been able to connect with the love between Phool and Dharani.
The love between Bahun and Gurungseni is the new taste that 'Oonko Sweeter' tries to give. The vicissitudes of two cultures and traditions, two faiths and two families are beautifully depicted. For example, the scene where Dharani takes the voice of a thief and goes to Ichcha's family is very beautiful. The different cultural diversity and beauty reflects a society stuck in co-existence.
A long time seems to have been spent in establishing love between Dharani and Phool. How many plots do not seem new. Old age love, Sweeterma Uniye Prem has been used in many films before. The story of the two characters would have continued even though the topic of the border had not been mentioned. However, here the director has kept the story of Seemana in a hurry instead of bringing it smoothly. In the
film, some scenes deviate from the realistic style. Dharani, who is speaking normally, sounds like he is 'lip-syncing' when he sings. Her voice sounds unnatural while singing 'Ghumtima Naau Hai'. While the spoken dialogue continues, the background music played while the character is singing has lost its identity with the scene.
The story of the film ends in 'open ending'. However, the scene is stretched in the same open ending of the film. If the story ends with the gift Dharani gets, the audience could have been enthralled by the story till the end. However, it is the director's decision where to start the story. However, looking at the path taken by the story, if the ending was in the same scene, 'Woonko Sweeter' could have been recorded as a strong love story. There are also some weaknesses in the
technical aspect. The camera shakes in most of the pre-intermission scenes. That means no communication to the audience. How many out of focus scenes are eye straining. But the strong performance of the artist has covered these weaknesses to some extent.
Bipin has survived Dharani from youth to old age. Not only does he smile at the sight of flowers when he is young, but the maturity that has come in his old age is visible on his face. Whether it is Dharani's fearsome nature inside the dark road while climbing towards the lake in search of flowers or the character burdened by responsibility, Bipin has brought alive two different characters in this film. Miruna has also shown a strong presence in the character of
Phool. Miruna has judged Gurungseni's courage to express his feelings. Alex has tried to make himself known through short roles. Exam also seems to fit the character of Iccha. Suraj Tamu has also stood strong in the character of Misek. The 'wool sweater' is ahead in
female characterization. Phul to Ichha belongs to the tribal community. Be it in relationship or society, family or in their expression, these women are stronger than men. When Kafle talks about driving away, she can confidently say that she has to ask for it, flower. Even though she looks like a flower, she is self-respecting and strong-willed. Director Chauhan has created a love story by mixing the related community and their culture, locality in the story.
