What Is Kagbeni About?
The premise of Kagbeni in 256 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the shadow of Nepal’s towering peaks, a remote village clings to age‑old myths while the world beyond its stone walls races forward. The crisp mountain air carries whispers of forgotten rituals, and every winding path seems to echo with stories that have survived generations. This stark yet beautiful landscape sets a tone that is simultaneously tranquil and unsettling, inviting visitors to feel both the awe of the highlands and the unease of something older stirring beneath the surface.
When Krishna returns from a stint in Malaysia, he finds his home changed yet familiar, and his childhood companion, Ramesh, still tending the modest liquor shop that forms the village’s modest pulse. Their reunion is marked by easy camaraderie and the quiet ambition of men who dream of expanding a humble trade, while also navigating the expectations of family and community. Along the way they cross paths with Pema, a local who carries her own quietly held desires, and Tara, whose presence hints at deeper ties that bind the villagers together.
Against this backdrop, an enigmatic hermit appears on a moonlit night, offering a weathered monkey’s paw said to grant wishes. The object is steeped in legend, promising fulfillment but warning of a price that twists every desire into something unforeseen. As the paw changes hands, the air grows heavier with unspoken tension, and the characters find themselves drawn into a subtle dance between hope and foreboding—an invitation to wonder how far they will go when the line between wish and consequence blurs in the mist‑laden valleys.
What Happens in Kagbeni?
The complete story of Kagbeni, from the first scene to the last, in 399 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Nima Rumba plays Krishna as he returns from Malaysia to the village of Kagbeni to meet his childhood friend Saugat Malla, who runs a small liquor business. Krishna proposes that the operation be expanded by sending liquor to town for greater profits, and he decides to accompany his friend to nearby Marpha to meet Amo, his aunt.
On their way to Marpha, they stop at a cave for the night. A mysterious hermit appears; Krishna hands him the blanket he brought for Amo. In return, the hermit offers a monkey’s paw, claiming it is magical and that it can grant the owner’s wishes but will bring disaster if someone else uses it.
On the return trip, they meet a girl named Pema (played by Pooja Gurung). Pema tells them that the girl in the photo is Tara, portrayed by Deeya Maskey, and that someone else also wants to marry her.
Ramesh wakes up in the middle of the night, takes the paw from Krishna and makes a wish to win Tara. Sometime later, as Krishna holds the paw, he loses his balance and falls off the hill despite Ramesh’s attempts to save him with a rope.
Nine years pass. Ramesh is married to Tara, and they have a son Bardaan. Their business has grown. One day, Krishna, who survived the fall, visits. That night, there is a big storm and heavy rainfall, which ruins the apple crop. Ramesh worries that he would not be able to fulfil his customers’ orders.
Seeing the deteriorating situation at home, Tara makes a wish on the monkey’s paw. The next day, their son Bardaan is run over by a tractor and dies. Both Ramesh and Tara are very much saddened by the incident; however, they get 1,50,000 as a compensation from the owner of the tractor. Ramesh is able to give the trader all the money he owes through this.
One day, while going to bed, Tara makes a wish to return their son. Suddenly, there is a tap on the door. But Ramesh struggles to get the paw from her and wishes they don’t want their son back. When Tara opens the door, there is no one. As Ramesh decides to get rid of the paw forever, he makes one final wish that he’ll never use it again. The paw is picked up by the once-again-alive Bardaan, who disappears with a flash.
Kagbeni Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Return to Kagbeni and business plan” to “Final wish and Bardaan's disappearance”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Return to Kagbeni and business plan
Krishna returns from Malaysia to Kagbeni and reconnects with his childhood friend Ramesh, who runs a small liquor business. He suggests sending liquor to town to earn more profit. Ramesh mentions he will travel to the neighboring village Marpha to meet Amo, and Krishna tags along to meet her.
When:day of return Where:Kagbeni
- 2
Night stop at a cave and the monkey's paw arrives
On the way to Marpha they stop at a cave for the night. A mysterious hermit appears and Krishna hands him the blanket for Amo. The hermit gives Krishna a monkey's paw, claiming it can grant wishes but warns it will bring disaster if used by anyone but the owner.
When:night Where:Cave on the road to Marpha
- 3
Meeting Pema and Tara's arranged-marriage situation
On the way back, they meet a girl named Pema who shows Krishna a photo of Tara, the girl his parents want him to marry. Pema explains that someone else also wants to marry Tara, complicating Krishna's prospects.
When:daytime after cave Where:Road back from Marpha
- 4
Ramesh uses the paw to wish for Tara
Ramesh wakes up in the middle of the night, takes the paw from Krishna, and wishes to win Tara for himself. The wish marks the paw's power and foreshadows the tragedy that will follow.
When:night Where:Ramesh's home
- 5
Krishna survives the fall from the hill
Shortly after the wish, Krishna loses balance while holding the paw on a hill and falls. Despite Ramesh's efforts with a rope, Krishna survives the fall and disappears from sight, setting the stage for later returns.
When:immediately after Where:Hill above Kagbeni
- 6
Nine years later: Krishna visits
Nine years pass. Ramesh is visited by Krishna, who has survived the fall and reappears in his life. The visit hints at the paw's lingering influence.
When:nine years later Where:Ramesh's village
- 7
Ramesh's new family and prospering business
By this time, Ramesh is married to Tara and they have a son named Bardaan, with their business flourishing. Krishna's return coincides with this stable but uneasy life, foreshadowing further tragedy.
When:nine years later Where:Ramesh's village
- 8
Storm ruins the apple crop
That night, a big storm and heavy rainfall ruin the apple crop, threatening Ramesh's ability to fulfill orders. Tara and the family grow anxious as their fortunes hang in the balance.
When:that night Where:Village farm
- 9
Tara's first wish for relief
Seeing the deteriorating situation at home, Tara makes a wish on the monkey's paw hoping to alleviate the crisis. The paw's consequences begin to ripple through the family.
When:the next day Where:Home
- 10
Bardaan's death and compensation
The next day Bardaan is run over by a tractor and dies, plunging the family into grief. The tractor owner pays 1,50,000 in compensation, enabling Ramesh to settle his debts with traders.
When:the next day Where:Village
- 11
Tara's second wish and the knock at the door
One day, Tara wishes Bardaan back. A knock at the door hints at his return, but when Ramesh wrestles with the paw and wishes they don't want their son back, the door reveals no one. The warning of the paw becomes clear.
When:that night Where:Home
- 12
Final wish and Bardaan's disappearance
Ramesh makes a final, desperate wish that he will never use the paw again. Bardaan, who comes back to life, picks up the paw and disappears with a flash, ending the haunted chapter.
When:final moment Where:Home
Who Are the Main Characters in Kagbeni?
6 characters, among them Tara (Deeya Maskey), Ramesh (Saugat Malla) and Pema (Pooja Gurung): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- T(
Tara (Deeya Maskey)
Played by Deeya Maskey
Wife of Ramesh who becomes desperate to reverse tragedy after Bardaan's death. She uses the monkey's paw to press for a return to happier times, triggering a cascade of unintended consequences. Her emotional journey exposes how grief can blur moral boundaries.
- 🧭 Complex
- 💔 Grieving
- 🕊️ Determined
- R(
Ramesh (Saugat Malla)
Played by Saugat Malla
Ramesh runs a small liquor business in the village and initially focuses on expanding his trade. He bears the burden of his family's misfortune and seeks stability, eventually wrestling with the paw's temptation and its impact on his livelihood and relationships.
- 💼 Pragmatic
- 🪙 Ambitious
- 🤝 Responsible
- P(
Pema (Pooja Gurung)
Played by Pooja Gurung
A girl Krishna meets who informs him about Tara and helps propel the plot. She acts as a catalyst by sharing information and shaping emotional stakes in the village’s web of relationships.
- 👧 Curious
- 🗣️ Informative
- 🧭 Catalyst
- B(
Bardaan (Vivek Gurung)
Played by Vivek Gurung
The couple’s son who dies in an accident and is later symbolically resurrected, only to vanish again at the story’s end. Bardaan’s presence amplifies parental love, fear, and the toll of magical manipulations.
- 👦 Innocent
- 🕊️ Tragic
- 🌀 Symbolic
- K(
Krishna (Nima Rumba)
Played by Nima Rumba
Friend who returns from Malaysia, brings the monkey's paw into the village, and survives the fall that should have killed him. His circle of fate intertwines with the paw’s power and its consequences.
- 🤝 Loyal
- 🧭 Catalyst
- 🧿 Supernatural
- B(
Bishnu (Hanif Mohammed)
Played by Hanif Mohammed
The hermit encountered in the cave who presents the magical monkey's paw and introduces the central dilemma about wishes and their costs. His presence is the spark that sets the tale in motion.
- 🧙♂️ Mysterious
- 🌄 Wise
- 🗝️ Gatekeeper
Where and When Is Kagbeni Set?
Kagbeni is set in Kagbeni and Marpha. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Kagbeni, Marpha
Kagbeni is a remote Himalayan village in Nepal that sits along rugged mountain routes toward Marpha. The journey between Kagbeni and Marpha features small houses, narrow paths, and apple orchards affected by seasonal storms. A cave outside these villages serves as a pivotal setting where a hermit arms Krishna with a magical monkey's paw, foreshadowing the tale's grim fate.
- ⛰️ Himalayan village
- 🏘️ Rural trading hub
- 🗺️ Mountain trade routes
What Are the Themes of Kagbeni?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Fate and Consequence, Grief and Loss and Desperation and Harm.
-
01
Fate and Consequence
The monkey's paw grants wishes that reconfigure the family’s fortunes, showing how desire can invite unforeseen disasters. The story threads cause-and-effect as each wish triggers a chain of tragic outcomes, culminating in a renewed struggle to sever the pact.
-
02
Grief and Loss
Loss drives characters to seek supernatural solutions, only to experience deeper sorrow. Tara's grief over Bardaan’s death and Ramesh's responsibilities after coming storms intensify the family’s emotional strain. The narrative uses bereavement to examine cycles of longing and acceptance.
-
03
Desperation and Harm
Desperation pushes characters to test limits, with tragic tolls on crops, livelihoods, and loved ones. Each wish amplifies the fragility of their world, highlighting how easily desperation can corrupt ordinary life.
What Kind of Film Is Kagbeni?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A dark and fatalistic folktale horror that steadily builds a sense of dread as a cursed object twists the protagonists' wishes into personal tragedies, culminating in a bleak and irreversible loss.
- ominous
- fatalistic
- grim
- tragic
- supernatural dread
- melancholic
- cursed object
- folklore horror
- tragic wishes
- friendship tested
Content notes: child death, grief.
Quiz
How well do you remember Kagbeni? Test yourself on the story.
