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Vol.
3 :: No. 2 January, 2001 (Poush-Magh) |
Entertainment
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Entertainment |
Film production and exhibition is a relatively new industry in Nepal. After remaining in the shadow for quite some time, the Nepali cinema industry has now begun attracting significant investments. Taken more as a form of glamorous pastime earlier, film-making has now become a serious business activity. Going back to the history of cinema exhibition, it is not surprising to learn that the first movie screened – at the theatre located where the ‘Bishal Bazar’ is today - was Hindi. Hindi films then were not purchased like they are done today.They were brought through personal contacts and relations. They were also shipped in by businessmen to study market potential. |
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And, like it is said, the rest is history. There are numerous people who entered into business by distributing and exhibiting Hindi films, and who are leading well-to-do lives now. In fact, most of the top distributors of Nepali films began with films from across the border.
It therefore goes without saying that, of all the foreign language films, Hindi films have captured the biggest market here in Nepal. So much so that the local films are satisfied standing second behind them. Every year, millions of rupees go into importing Hindi movies, though no official figures can be quoted in this respect. This is due to importers' reluctance to reveal proper documents – that could see them paying heavier amounts of money as tax. The practice of showing only a percentage of the money actually put into importing the film was begun years ago, and is followed till date. Nonetheless, available data show that the biggest amount so far of Nepali investment in importing Hindi movies was in the last fiscal year, 1999/2000. A monthly average of 3 or 4 Hindi movies were imported that year. That translated into an annual investments worth Rs. 100 million made in the year when a total of some 40 films were imported at an average cost of IRs. 1.5 million.
However, figures this year suggest a dip in film import costs. The number of pictures crossing the border into Nepal has subsided and so has the money paid for each film. So although one or two big banner films did account for huge put-ins, collectively, the Hindi cinema industry failed to garner the usual amount from Nepal this year. Of the big films, Uddhav Poudel is rumoured to have paid Rs. 2.5 million for ‘Mann’, and one or two others – even more.
What can be said in favour of Hindi film importers is that almost all of them are engaged in bringing in the best films. This is to say that most Hindi movies that enter the Nepali market belong to the ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade category. In contrast to some years back, ‘C’ grade films seem to have lost their place here.
This year also saw a dip in the number of import of ‘B’ grade films. Film pundits view that there was only one reason for this – Nepali films began promising lucrative markets here, thus forcing distributors, to a certain extent, to shun Hindi film distribution. And now only ‘A’ grade Hindi films can find a market here. Films like ‘Mohabatein’ and ‘Fiza’ are known to cost elephantine sums of money.
The heavy entertainment tax as well as duty charged on Indian films are seen as other factors contributing to distributors looking to change their guards. Mohan Saraf of Biswajyoti cinema hall says, "I gave up screening Hindi films once I found I could rely on the market of local films. There are numerous hall–owners like me who are now giving priority to Nepali films." Resultantly, investments on film imports have subsided. Earlier, Kathmandu was the major Hindi film market. Today, it is the Terai belt - centres like Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairhawa and Nepalgunj.
Behind Hindi, English movies follow in the second–language film category. The investment in this segment is however very low. English films come from India, and the money spent to bring these films into Nepal goes to India.
In relation to the amount of investment made in terms of import, Nepali films bring in negligible amounts from their exports. India is obviously the biggest market for Nepali cinema. A successful release brings in a mere NRs. 300,000 to 600,000. Moreover, only one or two films make such income in a year.
However, Nepali films are now gradually exploring overseas markets. And some centres promise good potentials. Places like Japan, Hong Kong, United States and England top the list, although – and naturally so – the majority audience are Nepalis working or studying in these countries. In terms of profit, a Nepali film collects between Rs. 100,000 and 300,000 from theatres here. This is indeed a promising picture considering that the mammoth Indian film industry only accounts for about the same amount of profit.
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