New Delhi, May 30 -- The title of Tribeny Rai's debut is a mild criticism. Bishnu (Gaumaya Gurung) can make momos, they even taste fine-but they look weird. It's a running joke in the family. "No one would believe you're from Sikkim," her sister, Junu (Shyama Shree Sherpa), teases her. This doesn't seem to bother Bishnu as much as what perfectly shaped momos symbolise for her-another annoying standard that women are supposed to live up to.

As though in solidarity, the film around Bishnu is misshapen too. I don't mean this in a negative sense. Most films aim for defined shapes of exposition, character motivation, narrative structure because it's expected and safe. Shape of Momo has a looser, more introspective progression, which seems mor...