National 7 (Spotlight Weekly)

Troubled Times

After a sharp boom, the sector is struggling to survive

By NIRAJ POUDYAL

If the advertisements on Nepalese Television are any indication, more and more actors and actresses are now lying idle at home. As the number of film productions falls, the artistes are feeling compelled to find another way to pursue their profession.

Until two years ago, it looked like the good times had just begun. "Darpan Chhaya" and "Tanta Saraini Bigrisni Badri" were great crowd-pullers. More than 50 Nepalese films hit the market annually, a figure that was projected to keep on rising.

"Nepalese artists and technicians were enjoying their busiest time," says a film critic. "Rajesh Hamal, a popular actor, used to play in dozens of movies per year, but now all of them have time to shop."

At any given time, half a dozen actors and actresses were busy working on half a dozen films. Financially, too, the artistes and technicians were doing very well. Producers used to throng the doors of leading directors. There used to be a row of directors behind popular music directors. A sector that had once been totally dominated by Hindi productions was moving toward indigenization.

Those prosperous moments came to an end after the imposition of the state of emergency last November. The Nepalese film industry dropped to its lowest point in five years. The number of productions almost halved this year. "The economic slowdown has trapped the entertainment industry," says Udhav Poudyal, a leading producer. "The rising unemployment resulting from the disastrous slump in the garment, carpet and tourism industries have sparked a decline in cinema-hall audiences."

Most of the films halls are running in less than half capacity. "I have not visited a film hall for more than a year, since I lost my job," says Ram Khanal, a resident of Kalimati. "People go to the movies only after fulfilling their basic needs. How can an unemployed person, who can't afford food and clothing, think of buying a movie ticket costing at least 50 rupees?"

Amid such piercing questions, several production companies have closed and others are hanging on minimal profit. Many producers have started reducing expenses either by shifting their offices to cheaper locations or by reducing the facilities they were using and providing to actors and actresses.

"Some keen viewers complain that Nepalese films are copied partially or even fully from foreign films," says Poudyal. "The films that are already on the screens, too, are facing empty seats."

Many directors, producers and artistes seem to have found a way out: the small screen. Ramesh Budhathoki, one of the busiest directors of the big screen, is now starting a tele-serial named "Duee Dinko Jindagani". Another prominent director, Ashok Sharma, is preparing to direct a tele-serial based on a real story.

With the government having granted licenses to a few new television channels, producers and directors are being attracted to the small screen. In India, the television industry is growing as a separate entertainment industry. This became possible only after the Indian government allowed private TV channels to hit the airwaves.

Anticipating a similar success, actors and actresses, too, are rushing to TV. Actresses like Mira KC and Dipa Shri Niraula† are working in a tele-serial named "Bamsha", directed by Dipak Rayamaghi, who says he is just using his time off the big screen.

The film industry is facing the most difficult time in its history. As the situation seems to be worsening amid the general uncertainty in the country, nobody knows when - or even whether - the good days will return.