Growing market of movies in Nepal

BY AAJ JYOTI Kathmandu, July 10: Most young viewers in Nepal prefer watching Hollywood films over Nepali movies. 

Asha Sharma, a ticketer at the QFX cinema in Labim Mall, revealed that QFX data shows English movies have the most number of viewers, followed by Indian films, both SouthIndian and Bollywood ones. 

Recently, the most watched movie is Minions: The Rise of Gru, a Hollywood animated film. It has collected over $1.1 billion globally, and is part of a successful franchise. 

Another movie that is currently receiving attention domestically is Dipendra K. Khanal’s Chiso Manchhe. It has collected around $170,000 from Nepal, the USA and Canada.  

Why do these two movies have such a drastic difference in revenue? Although Khanal has released award-winning works previously highlighting the struggles within Nepali society, many youths tend to prefer light-hearted films. 

Additionally, the stereotype of Nepali movies being of lower quality cinematography, story and acting affects the mindset of people searching for new movies to watch. Ronika Shrestha believes that internationally produced films are of better quality, and therefore chooses to watch more of those. Her decision to watch Chiso Manchhe was based solely on the lead actor Swastima Khadka being involved. 

However, movies such as Chiso Manchhe prove that Nepal has been stepping up its game. The film features minimal dialogue, and includes scenes that showcase the beauty of the Nepali countryside by means of drone shots. It also focuses on a heart-wrenching story that reminds people of the struggles endured in a time where societal interactions were minimal. 

The story follows three characters on one journey, as they face and overcome multiple “chiso” problems along the way. 

Ganga Tamang had never been to a cinema before, and watched Chiso Manchhe as her first film. She said that while the storyline was meaningful and the cinematography was enjoyable, including subtitles would have benefitted a larger number of viewers who were unable to fully understand the dialect being spoken. Over 50 per cent of viewers watching the movie were over the age of 30. 

The Minions is part of a successful franchise, but the recent rise in TikTok trends focusing on the film can be attributed to its individual triumph. It has made over $1.1 billion globally, and broke the box office record. Many Nepali viewers of the Minions participated in the TikTok trend, and could be seen in groups, donning suits to the theatre. 

Sudresh Singh and his six friends said that it was a way for “true fans” to recognize each other. As the cinema halls showed the movie, the audience were thoroughly reactive, seen in various videos shared online of people shouting and cheering as the story progressed. Even though the animated film targets young children as its main audience, majority of viewers have been enthusiastic teenagers and adults, all with positive critiques. 

K.G.F: Chapter 2 is a South Indian film that collected around $160 million internationally. In Nepal, nine out of 10 of the highest grossing movies have been Indian films. In languages similar to Nepali, and oftentimes with more dramatic plots, Bollywood movies and serials have always done well in Nepal. They target a larger audience, and have more renowned actors.

(Jyoti interns at TRN)