By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Nov. 10: Why is Nepali film hollow despite having everything and why don’t they attract audience like other foreign films?
Legendary film director, script writer, actor, producer and lyricist Tulsi Ghimire acknowledge that Nepali films fail because they lack strong and quality content.
From cellulite film making to advanced digital film making, he reminisced how filmmaking has changed over the years.
When he made films in the 80s, 90s and 20s, he used to make films that would touch the hearts of the audience even though he did not have the technology and facility like today’s.
In those films, the audience would feel connected to the story and the story would speak of the soil.
But nowadays watching some Nepali films feels like watching South Indian, Bollywood or other foreign films, he added.
Praising Nepali literature, Ghimire said that Nepali literature was of a world-class standard and that if filmmakers made films based on Nepali literature, very good films would be produced.
“Literature and films complement each other and a film would not fail if it is made based on literature using present technology and facilities.” he added.
When copying a film from foreign films, the filmmakers should understand that the film was made on a very big budget, but the budget of a Nepali film is much less, so it is unwise to compromise on the content of the film. The story should take the subject matter of our soil, opined Ghimire.
Ghimire, who has been living in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, ever since COVID-19-induced restrictive measures were taken, is busy researching and studying on films.
He said that research and study play a tremendous role in filmmaking.
He is currently working on a script, on which he plans to shoot a film beginning February next year.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, he said that he is planning to make a film with new generation’s artistes. “I am also looking forward to making a good film,” he added.
Propelled by filmmaker Ghimire, many artistes have been able to make a name for themselves in Nepali filmdom.
His film journey started from Mumbai, India, where he worked as a support boy for the film. On the advice of his mentor, he entered Nepali film industry with the Movie Bansuri in 1981 as a director.
He made his second film, Kusume Rumal in 1985 based on his own story, starring evergreen actor Bhuvan KC and actress Tripti Nadakar, which became a huge box-office hit. He then went on to produce back-to-back hit films.
Many of the successful Nepali films, including Lahure, Deuta, Chino, Balidaan, Dakshina and Darpanchhya are directed by Ghimire. His Darpanchhya, released in 2001, was another blockbuster and changed Nepali film industry once and for all.
He believes that filmmakers should come up with a quality content to revive the film sector which has shrunken due to COVID-19 pandemic, and hopes that the film to be made after COVID-19 will be of superior quality because the pandemic has inspired the filmmakers to make a good film.
“There is a lot of competition among actors now than before. Now everything is better in Nepali film, from artiste to technology.” Ghimire opined.
Stressing the importance of unity and harmony in Nepali film industry, he said that senior artistes should love and teach the young generation artistes, and that young-generation artistes should appreciate their seniors’ contribution to the film industry.
“If a quality film is made giving attention to the original content, then Nepali film industry will revive even after COVID-19.”
As the festival of lights -- Tihar -- is approaching, Ghimire wished everyone a healthy Dipawali and urged everyone to wear masks, use sanitizer and maintain social distancing to combat coronavirus infection and bring COVID-19 pandemic under control.