By Renuka Dhakal

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: The social/physical distancing and self-isolation have now become a normal daily routine for the people after the enforcement of the nationwide lockdown to save people from deadly coronavirus.
While the film lovers are up to date with the contemporary movies, there may be a few people who had missed watching the beautiful movies and are now revisiting them.
Unlike many movie lovers, the most successful actor of Nepali filmdom, Dayahang Rai, is also revisiting some good Bollywood movies.
He watched old Indian cinemas like Ek Doctor Ki Maut (death of a doctor), 1953 released movie Do Bigha Zamin and more. He said such old movies were still relevant.
“These types of movies vividly portray the story of our society and they are still fresh,” said Rai.
However, he hasn’t watched Nepali films so far during the current lockdown but he is planning to watch a few movies from the 80s and the 90s.
When asked why people prefer to watch old time movies than the contemporary ones, he said that old films give reference to the art of cinema and help know where cinema is now.
He further added that except a few Nepali movies, most of them have been the crop of the similar set-up.
Emphasising his point, he said that if one compared the current movies based on the three Nepali present day movies like Loot, Kabaddi and Jerry, majority of the contemporary films could be seen following the similar trends of those movies.
“On the other hand, old movies represent the society and they have a mission and meaning of human life and society,” said Rai. Rai is very positive that upcoming movies will be based on quality because the lockdown has immensely helped the filmmakers to deeply understand the movies and many of them have been revisiting their works. “This will encourage them to make movies with adequate research and study,” he said, adding that art and literature would emerge more powerfully after the crisis. “I am optimistic that after this pandemic gets over, many good works will be seen in our film sector as well.”
Rai grew up listening to many stories from his mother. He used to listen to mythical stories and he also wanted to be like those in them. He was very curious about art and stories since his childhood and that was the reason he is in the Nepali filmdom.
Rai has so far done more than 40 films and he began doing the leading role form the 2006 released movie Anagarik.
Rai thinks that Dasdhunga released in 2009 brought a turning point in his career in the big screen and it was further polished by the success of Loot in 2012. After his box-office hit Loot, Rai has been giving back to back commercially and critically acclaimed movies for Nepali film industry. Movies like Chhadke, Badhshala, Jholey, Kabaddi serie, Talakjung Vs Tulke, Sambohan and so on established Rai as a successful actor of Nepali filmdom. Various awards recipient actor Rai requested people to stay safe and happy at their homes during this nationwide lockdown. He said the lockdown had harmed the country’s economy and asked the government to introduce a policy which covers every citizen after the pandemic calms down.