Vol. 3 : No.11 November, 2001 (Kartik-Mangsir)

Entertainment

Do Halls Make Hits?

By Ananta Wagle

As challenging as it is to make a film, exhibiting the film is proving a greater challenge these days. This is mainly thanks to the overwhelming competition between cinema halls, in and outside the valley, in screening Nepali movies. If a greater number of releases is witnessing severe competition amongst different films on one hand, there is a greater and more important competition taking place simultaneously – the competition to release the film from a more renowned theatre.

This run for the right cinema hall has created two different panels in the valley capital – the Biswojyoti panel, and Kumari and Ranjana panel. Of the two, the former is believed to be more influential. Of course, if the film hall has proved to be successful for a number of films, it has also proved to be disastrous for numerous others. This notwithstanding, the role of the Biswojyoti panel, to a large extent, is believed to be influential in the success of a film. The most successful film of the past year, ‘Nata Ragatko’, it is believed, would have seen better collections if it had been released from the Biswojyoti panel. "Darpan Chhayan’, which was released from Biswojyoti, collected a whopping six million rupees from the theater alone. Deducting theatre charge and taxes, this translates to a profit of over three million rupees.

Biswojyoti is therefore generally believed to be the top notch cinema hall in the valley. And also Kalanki, Lalit and Prithivi movies theaters which are said to be in the shadow of Biswojyoti. And so this panel is believed to be the first choice of film-makers.

But Biswojyoti, as one would imagine, has had its share of miserable shows. ‘Bihani’, released this year, was able to collect a low Rs. 1,56,900. And ‘Gauthali’, around Rs. 4,00,000. This goes to show, say film pundits, that it is the film that runs and not the theater. And that a well made film screened at a good theater is the ideal situation.

The competition among cinema theatres is not limited to within the valley. Though to a lesser extent, the competition is still stiff. The primary market for Nepali films outside the valley capital is in the east. Pathivara Cinema Theatre, situated in Damak, is said to represent Biswojyoti and is known to be popular among film-makers. The cinema hall is also believed to bag big films thanks to the involvement of distributor Manoj Rathi in the theatre. Another prominent station for Nepali film exhibition is Pokhara. Though it is considered to be a smaller station as compared to those of the east, it still accounts for quite significant collections. Bindhyabasini and Purnima are the major theatres here, although the latter is only gearing up for competition since quite recently.

What is characteristic about ticket sale in theatres outside the valley is that ticket issue often over-runs the number of seats. Tickets are issued to all those who come to the counter in and are seated in stools, benches and even cushions. Since tax is levied based on the number of seats the theatre houses, the hall owners stand to make quite a gain. And why not? Only last year, while Mahili was released in Bindhyabasini hall in Pokhara, one show is said to have registered collections amounting to twice the number of seats.

The banner associated with the particular film also plays a role in guaranteeing good movie halls. A well made film but lacking in banner name will, on most occasions, not find a reputed theater for release. Which is what happened in case of ‘Sangam’ the past year. Although appreciated from all quarters the film was associated with new film-maker and director and therefore could not land a release in any big theatre. Resultantly, say industry watchers, while it should have been a hit, it struggled to collect even the investment. On the other hand, an ordinary movie like ‘Bihani’ did quite well only because its maker bagged the opportunity to screen the film in Biswojyoti.

Ashok Sharma, Yuvraj Lama, Ram Krishna Bajgai, Kiran KC, Keshav Bhattarai are said to be influential names in the film industry. And so also Bhuvan KC. But he, however, had to bow down to Yadav Kharel, the president of the Nepal Film Development Board, in screening his latest film ‘Superstar’ through the Biswojyoti channel to Kharel’s "Hatteri’. Says a confident KC. "I will be ahead in terms of collections. It must be realised that the film too must be good."

KC could not be more correct. But Biswojyoti cinema hall has, to quite a level, the ability in making – and at times even breaking – films. The box tells the tale to an extent, even though Nepali film-makers are known to quote collection figures they think is right.

Translated by Navin

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