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Darjeeling, India — Filmmaker Kiran Khatiwada from Nepal has been honored with the prestigious “Sadhu Ramchand Murmu – Pt. Raghunath Murmu Award” during the 9th International Santali Conference 2026 held in Darjeeling, India.
The conference was organized in collaboration with the International Santali Council, New Delhi, bringing together scholars, artists, and cultural representatives from different countries to celebrate and discuss Santali heritage and indigenous culture.
According to the initial schedule, the award was to be presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during the opening ceremony. However, due to technical reasons the presentation could not take place in that session. The award was later formally presented in a special session by former Indian Revenue Accounts Service (IRAS) officer Udaynath Majhi.
Kiran Khatiwada received the honor for his contribution to promoting Santali culture through cinema. Although not a member of the Santali community himself, he made history by creating Nepal’s first Santali feature film, “BONODAL (Change)”, which highlights indigenous stories, identity, and culture.
The film, shot in 2016, has received recognition at various platforms and festivals. The production team is currently preparing for the global release of BONODAL (Change) through cinema screens and streaming platforms, with distribution planning underway from Mumbai.
Khatiwada’s work is seen as an important step in bringing indigenous narratives from Nepal to international audiences and strengthening cultural exchange through film.
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