Vol

Film Industry

Sunny Days Ahead

Budget and manpower, both have been flowing into Nepal’s film industry in recent days. Ananta wagle explains why

p23.jpg (47838 bytes)
Karishma Manandhar in "Dhuk-Dhuki"

The cent percent exemption of the entertainment tax seems to have given a boost to investment in Nepali film industry. Where film makers were content with simply completing the film at the lowest budget possible – even if it meant making compromises in every aspect of film making – producers today appear to be more concerned about making quality films-even if it obviously means that much more investment. This trend, provided it lasts for a couple of years, will enable film makers to try out new subject matters and perhaps make Nepali films worth going a mile to watch.

The desire shown by big celluloid halls to run Nepali pictures seems to have played supporting role to encourage investments. Kumari, Ranjana and Prithvi movie halls have, of late, given preference to running Nepali films over Hindi. For some time, Biswa Jyoti too has been exhibiting only Nepali movies. Not long ago, it appeared as if Nepali pictures were meant to be shown only in high-vision halls. Resultantly, investments had hit an all time low and producers were running away from the industry. The handful of film makers that chose to weather the storm were forced to cut the budget of films by half. So much so that films made almost five years ago boasted of much bigger budget.

The scenario, however, has changed and investors from different sectors are lining up to enter into the film industry. These entrants include both new investors as well as the old runaways. But more than the new comers, it is the come-back of the old-timers that has provided a welcome sight to the ailing cinema industry. Bhagwan Das Shrestha, who produced blockbusters of yesteryears like ‘Santaan’ and ‘Kanchhi’ has, after disappearing for over a decade, has begun making films once again. His upcoming venture ‘Naata Ragatko’ is being directed by Prakash Thapa and this big budget film is being tauted as a promising one by film pundits. The film stars Niruta Singh, Jal Shah and Shree Krishna Shrestha and it is learnt that no compromise has been made either financewise or in choice of locations for shooting the film. With a view of making at least two films a year. Bhagwan Das has gone into partnership with three other individuals (Sushil Chaugain, Arun Malla and Sheetal) looking to make good big budget films and getting good return as well.

Also looking to cash in on the improving situation of the Nepali cinema industry is the present prima donna of the industry, Karisma Manandhar, who seems to have given up starring in films that are not produced by herself. At a time when she was not only being paid the highest remuneration here but was also getting offers for films from across the border, she chose to step into the shoes of a producer with ‘Dhuk Dhuki’ – a film that is being very eagerly awaited and also one in which, it is said, she has invested every penny she has earned. Dhuk Dhuki’ stars Rajesh Hamal, Dinesh DC and Neer Shah besides Karisma herself and is directed by Dayaram Dahal of ‘Thul Dai’ fame – a film that created a record for running for over one hundred days.

The shooting of the first ‘all Nepali’ cinema-scope film ‘Mahili’ is also going on full swing. The virtually first Nepali cinema-scope picture, ‘Raanko’, was made with the assistance of Indian technicians almost a decade back at a whopping cost of Rs. 7.2 million. This figure is expected to cross easily in ‘Mahili’ - being made by Nepal Film Development Company. Rajesh Hamal, Niruta Singh, Bipana Thapa and Ramesh Upreti are cast in the leading roles of ‘Mahili’, with Santa Nepali as its director. Budget wise, ‘Mahili’ boasts of being the biggest Nepali movie ever. Whether or not the film will be able to get the investment back and make any kind of income is, however, anybody’s guess at this stage. If films made at 2 or 4 hundred thousand rupees struggle to land any income, it will take nothing short of a miracle to recover 7 million rupees.

Neer Shah, who wished to establish himself as a maker of historic films, has deviated into main stream cinema with another big budget film, ‘Basanti’. The film, however, has been delayed owing to Shah’s involvement in the recently released regional film ‘Caravan’. From costumes to set construction, Shah has made no compromise. Will the investment be secured by running the film only in Nepal? Time will be the judge.

Manju Kumar Shrestha’s ‘Bar Peepal’, Ujwal Ghimire’s ‘Jeendagani’, Arjun Shrestha and Sambhu Pradhan’s ‘Sorha Barse Jovan’ and Tulsi Ghimire’s ‘Darpan Chayan’ are some of the other upcoming films that are being tauted as promising ones. It is viewed that these films may not only be trend – setters for films to follow, but may also have a telling effect on the prosperity of the Nepali cinema industry.