Devi’s story is one I’ve wanted to tell for almost a decade but she had declined to meet me, until one day in June 2019 when she called me and gave me her diary. She wanted me to tell her story. 

Travelling with women guerrillas during the civil war, I’d heard of Devi’s fearlessness. I could understand why Devi had taken so long to be ready. As one of the few Nepali women in the media, I’ve been hyper-aware of how women’s stories are told and seen. I’d seen Nepali media vilify Devi. Devi’s trauma feels very personal and therefore the approach to the filmmaking reflects that. I’d buried my own shame of sexual assault I experienced as a teenager for a very long time. What I also know is, that if I don’t tell this story now, the stories of hundreds of women might get lost forever. I want Devi to be seen in her multiple dimensions – mother, survivor, activist, politician - flawed, and yet complete in her own way, as all women should be seen in the totality of their stories.