By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Nov. 30: Various film-related organisations have demanded that the government declare Nalapani a special film and provide it with financial assistance.
Directed by Rimesh Adhikari, the film is based on the historical battle commanded by Balbhadra Kunwar at Nalapani Fort in Dehradun during Anglo-Nepal War from 1814 –1816.
The war was fought between the British East India Company and Nepal. In a letter, the Film Development Board (FDB) has requested the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) to provide assistance for the promotion and screening of the film as it sends a message of patriotism, national pride and national love in the global movie market.
Similarly, Film Artistes Association, Film Directors Association, Film Producers Association, Film Technical Association and Bir Balbhadra Kunwar Pratishthan Nepal have also requested the government to provide financial assistance by declaring the film a special work of art.
Producer and director of the film Adhikari handed over the recommendation letters of six organisations, including the Film Development Board, to Communication and Information Technology Minister Parbat Gurung on Friday.
The film is based on the book “Nalapanika Nayak Vir Balbhadra Kunwar” penned by prof. Dr. Dhanraj Kunwar and Ramraja Kunwar, which was published by Nepal Army.
According to the director, the film was made spending Rs. 80 million with the immense support of the Nepali Army. The cost of the film could have doubled had the Nepal Army not supported it, said director Adhikari.
Sharing what triggered him to make the film, Adhikari said he was interested in patriotic issues from his school days. When he went to Dehradun in 2007 to attend a cultural event, he was saddened to see the miserable condition of the place where the Nalapani battle was fought.
Since 2007, he planned to portray the great battle of Nalapani on the big screen but for various reasons it was delayed. He started working on the film from 2014 and after five years of untiring efforts and with the special help of Nepali Army the film is now ready for release.
Stating that the government is our guardian, he said, “With the special support of the Nepali Army, I have made a film based on this historical battle, so I am hopeful that the government will declare this movie a special film and provide financial support.”
The teaser of the movie has already been made public and the film will be released after the cinema halls come into operation.
Presented by Rimesh Adhikari Film Productions, the film is co-produced by BGB Entertainment and Ganga Narayan Films.
The story is written by Rimesh Adhikari and Krishna Acharya, action by Roshan Shrestha and cinematography by Ram Sharan Upreti.
Bipin Malla edited the movie.
The film has Ghanendra Thapaliya as the executive producer and Manoj Shakya as the producer. The film stars Deshbhakta Khanal, Arjun Jung Shahi, Santosh Pant, Manoj Shakya, Bishal Pahari, Bijay Bishpot and Poojana Pradhan, among others.