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“Film Festival Aimed To Promote Welfare And Development Of Nepalese Cine Industry”
-- Shambhujeet Baskota
Shambhujeet Baskota , is the executive chairman of the National Film Development Board. The board recently organized the first-ever National Film Festival. Baskota spoke to THAKUR AMGAI about the objectives of the festival and situation of Nepalese film industry. Excerpts:
What are the Objectives of the National Film Festival?
It is one of the founding agenda of the National Film Development Board. The Board – that was established about five years ago - was trying to hold the festival ever since its establishment. It is a historic event. Such an event was organized for the first time in the four decades long history of Nepalese film industry. It aims to promote the welfare and security of cine workers. Its main objective is to award and honor the personalities who have contributed for the promotion of Nepalese cinemas. We also expect to raise awareness among the public about Nepali films. At a time when the entire film industry is enduring one of the most difficult times, this event will re-energize the cine industry.
What changes do you expect in the quality of Nepali films after this festival?
This festival is considered as a trend setter. For the award ceremony a jury of experts meticulously assessed various aspects of the films made in the past four decades. Different personalities and films were awarded under various categories. From this the film makers will know what kind of movies win awards and what kind of movies should be made. The awards will indirectly set a standard of various elements of movies such as script, acting, music etc. Earlier there was a trend of labeling the films, which have been screened for many days (such as 51 days, 100 days), as successful movies. Now, a film’s success will also be measured in terms of the awards they bag.
What were the highlights of the festival?
The major event, of course, was to award the films and film personalities. The films made in the last two years competed for awards in about two dozen titles. Other films contested for ‘Critics Award’.
In addition, there were various programs such as interactions and seminars, food festival, essay contest, art contest and quiz contest were organized. We organized programs to raise awareness about Nepali films through these programs. All the halls of Nepal screened Nepali films – old and new – for one week. The film artistes traveled country wide and the public were able to meet and interact with them in cinema halls and in other programs. We also tried to disseminate the information about Nepali films through various programs in Television, other media and by posters and pamphlets. We also exhibited materials used in the movies since old days. We organized cultural programs and rallies in places like Basantapur and Bhaktapur. Through this festival we also tried to send a message about the Nepali films to the international community. We invited films makers and artistes from South Asian countries like India , Sri Lanka and also China . And we honored Indian film maker Dev Anand with the ‘Film Excellency Honor of Nepal’ for his contribution to the Nepalese film Industry. He was the first person to come to Nepal to shoot movies like ‘Hare Ram Hare Krishna’, ‘Johny Mera Nam ’ at a time when Nepali films were not even made. He used Nepali artistes in the side roles, used the Nepali technicians, and contributed to the tourism development of this country.
What is the reason for inviting film personalities from foreign countries at this festival?
We invited them as observers. They got the opportunity to see and learn about films made in Nepal and their quality. Nepal could be used for shooting foreign films. They also saw various places in which they could be interested in shooting their films in the coming days. We expect that their observation and the message they take back home will also help to change the image of Nepal in the world. It will send a message of peace in the world. This will also help to boost the tourism industry.
How do you see the situation of the Nepali film industry?
In the past few years too many films were made without a proper homework. As the number of Nepali films rose and the size of audience increased, the cinema halls, too, started to mushroom. There was no mechanism to regulate either the films or the halls. The films were not checked in terms of technical and other qualities. Some movies also became commercially hit. But as the market of the Nepali films started becoming brighter, unprofessional people who had little knowledge about the film-making intruded in the industry. They made films without doing much research and hard work. They tried to imitate certain elements of other successful movies. Even the professional film makers started to replicate the themes, stories and styles of other movies. The audience soon became bored of monotony. Tired of the same taste the Nepali films provided them, they slowly shifted to watching Hindi and English movies or not watching at all. This led the business of the Nepali films to plummet. So, the film industry suffered for a certain period of time. But now the producers have realized their mistakes and have taken initiatives to rectify them. They have understood the market trend. On the eve of the film festival, the ailing film industry is slowly reviving. We have got reports that some of the films released on the eve of the festival are doing very good business. The halls have started to screen Nepali films and started to see larger crowd of audience in the recent days.
Why is the market of the Nepali films limited to a certain sector of the Nepalese society only?
The quality of the Nepali films is one reason. The lack of awareness and the sense of nationalism is another reason. I do not fully agree with your version that all Nepalese do not watch Nepali movies. It is only the people who are privileged to watch movies at home that do not come to the theaters. It is not just the Nepali films, they do not even watch Hindi or English movies in halls. However, we must agree that we have not been able to tap the entire potential market. Language is one problem. We have send some films to the foreign market by subtitling them and they have got good response. But, this is for a few films only. The producers have not explored the foreign market. They should have subtitled and dubbed Nepali movies in other languages when they become successful in Nepal and screened in the cinema halls of international cities. They could have even explored the market of the Nepalese diaspora itself. There are a large number of Nepalese residing in many cities of the world. The producers of Nepali films should have taken initiatives to screen their films in those cities.
What are the plans and policies of the government for the promotion of Nepali film industry?
The government’s viewpoint towards Nepalese films is very positive. The government policy at present is to promote nationalist policies. The films, which help to promote nationalism are highly encouraged. The films that showcase our nationality, culture and our identity are encouraged. So, far there is no separate law to regulate this sector. We are doing homework to bring out an act to regulate the National Film Development Board by an ordinance.
What kind of law is coming?
The law that is being drafted is basically a law to regulate the activities and functioning of the National Film Development Board. It will empower the board as an independent body and entitle it with various authorities to regulate the Nepali films. So, far the Board is only a unit of the Ministry of Information and Communications. We take permission from the ministry before doing any work. After the implementation of the law the National Film Development Board, it will be able to promote and work for the welfare of the national films and the welfare of the entire cine workers. As of now, we have only conceived various concepts for the development of the Nepalese Film Industry. We are contemplating the making of films and documentaries of international level. We are thinking of introducing various policies to introduce the Nepali movies in the international market. We are also thinking of developing a Film City like the ‘Film Nagari’ in Mumbai.
What are the major challenges for the development of Nepali films in the recent days?
There are many. The major challenge is the market. The market of Nepali films is too small. So, the only option for the development of Nepali films is to explore the international market. But, before this we should be able to make our films of the international level. We should upgrade the quality of Nepali films by technical improvements. This is imperative to take the Nepali films to the international market. There are many Nepalis living in foreign countries. We should explore that also. We should take our films to such places and also attract the foreigners towards this. Our language is not an international language. But, still, we can dub some movies in other languages and put subtitles in them.
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