Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket (2026): Cast, Story and Release

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Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket follows 14-year-old Muna as she tries to remain in school despite her village’s tradition of forced early marriage. When her appeal for help is dismissed, the film presents a stark drama about education, social pressure and a future narrowed by custom.

Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket is a 2026 drama short from Nepal centered on Muna, a 14-year-old girl determined to continue her education. Her ambition comes into direct conflict with a village tradition that treats early marriage as unavoidable.

Directed by Rajesh Prasad Khatri, the 20-minute film focuses on the limits placed on a young girl when family and community expectations leave little room for choice. Its premise is direct and socially grounded, with the wedding at the center of Muna’s struggle.

Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket movie details

Story without spoilers

Muna wants to stay in school, but her village’s rigid practice of forced early marriage threatens to end that possibility. She seeks support from her teacher, hoping education might offer a way forward. Instead, the villagers dismiss the value of schooling and question why it matters. The story examines how communal pressure can overwhelm a child’s hopes and choices.

What to expect

This is a concise social drama built around education, forced early marriage and the tension between personal aspirations and entrenched tradition. At 20 minutes, it presents its subject in a compact form rather than as an expansive feature-length narrative. Viewers can expect a serious, issue-focused story with a young protagonist at its center.

Cast and creative team

Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket is directed by Rajesh Prasad Khatri. The cast includes Kabita Budha and Binita Thapa Magar. No writer is listed in the supplied credits, and character roles are not specified.

• Kabita Budha
• Binita Thapa Magar

Release and production context

Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket is a Nepali drama short with a runtime of 20 minutes. It is listed as released in 2026, with a release date of October 8, 2026. The supplied production information identifies Nepal as its country and does not list a spoken language or production company.

Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

With its brief runtime and focused premise, Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket addresses the collision between a child’s educational hopes and a community’s acceptance of forced early marriage. The film’s story is shaped around Muna’s attempt to find help before tradition determines her future.

Film data:
TMDB