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Kathmandu Thursday February 22, 2001 Falgun 11, 2057.
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Caravan
to the plains
By Suman Pradhan
KATHMANDU, Feb 21 - If what the makers of
Caravan say is true, then the hit Franco-Nepali production about life in Dolpo could be
showing at cinema halls all across the country this summer.
Neer Shah, the Nepali co-producer of the
film, confided yesterday that his company, which has the distribution rights for Nepal, is
currently dubbing the film into the Nepali language. Eric Valli, the French director of
the film, said the same thing as did Thinley, Caravan’s rugged star.
How wonderful. Just imagine, the entire dusty
Terai belt, as well as the hills and valleys, booming to the sound of Thinley, Karma, Pema
and the yaks. More so than in the hills, Caravan will undoubtedly be a novelty in the
Terai where the usual fare is the chhammak chhallos of Bollywood or their poor imitations
spewed out by Kollywood.
But coming from the Terai myself, and having
enjoyed the company of many Terai friends during quite a few chhammak chhallo movies
(which I confess I enjoy), I know what the regular bloke in the plains will most likely
feel about Caravan. What, no songs? Hey, where’s the song and dance sequence to which
to throw our valueless pennies? I can already hear the complaints.
In a region where a single song can incite
comments such as "ek hi gana me film ka paisa sad gaya," song and dance in a
movie is a serious business, as serious as sattu, the local staple. This leads me to
wonder if Messers Valli and Shah are ready for the flood of complaints about their
precious but song-less film in the Terai.
Since Caravan played to packed houses all
over the world, including our very own Jai Nepal, and since it made it to the Oscar
nominated list, the producers, directors, actors and everyone else associated with the
acclaimed film have heard nothing but praise. That could change with its all-Nepal
release.
Though I’m not a film reviewer, and
don’t have any pretensions of being one, I think both the praise and the acclaim are
justified. But try saying that to Ramlakhan of Birgunj ward 10, or Shital Bhai of
Hariharpur VDC. I did, and here’s what they had to say -
Ramlakhan: What’s all
this talk about the Oscar? Is it the name of the heroine?
Shital Bhai: No song and
dance and you expect us to see this film? And they say it ends at half-time.
Me: Na bhaiya na. It doesn’t end at
half-time. The entire film ends within 90 minutes, unlike the usual three hours.
A few "dialogues" later, I know
I’m not getting anywhere with these fellows, even when I mention that the film is
loaded with snow-capped mountains, a sure turn on for the sun-baked Terai folks. But
let’s hope that Mr Valli, Mr Shah and Mr Thinley et all cracks this tough nut which
is the Terai market. The film, after all, is a universal-themed one, on love, jealousy and
as the glossy brochures say, "man’s eternal struggle against the elements."
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