Festivals regarded best time to release films

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Festivals like Dashain and Tihar are considered the best time for film release.  Assuming that the audience are in a fun mood during festivals, filmmakers wait for festivals to release their films with the belief that the audience prefer to go to the cinema at this time.

As the film industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic for two years, this year Dashain and Tihar have given some relief to filmmakers. 

One of the most touted films Prem Geet-3 has been released during Dashain and still is being screened in the halls.

It had hit the theatre on September 23.

Directed by Santosh Sen and late Chhetan Gurung, Prem Geet-3 is considered to be the first Indo-Nepali film to be released in 1,200 theaters in both Nepal and India.

According to Sen, the director and producer of the film, Prem Geet–3 has grossed over Rs. 130 million in Nepal while it earned over Rs. 380 million worldwide. 

Sen expressed happiness that the film was doing good business in both Nepal and India and he is planning to release it in Pakistan soon.

He said that after its release in Pakistan, the film is expected to earn Rs. 500 million worldwide.

Prem Geet-3 will be released in Pakistan on November 4, said Sen. 

Likewise, Surendra Poudel directed romantic comedy Babari released amidst the Dashin festival on September 30. 

Starring Adhiti Budathoki, Dhiraj Magar and Dhiraj Nadakar in the lead roles, this film couldn’t entice the audience in the halls. According to the box office record, it earned only around Rs. 9 million. 

Another film Dui Nambari directed by Dipendra Lama has also collected quite impressive sum.

As per the producer’s claim, this film earned more than Rs. 40 million in the first week of its release.

However, according to the box office records, this film has collected around Rs. 30.5 million so far. The film was released in Nepal on October 7 and is still surviving in the halls.

Hijo Aaj ka Kura, a movie of legendary actors like Santosh Panta and Rama Thapaliya, has been in the cinema theatres from October 14.

This film is also the adaption of popular tele-serial of 1990s Hijo Aaj Ka Kura. 

It has been receiving mix reviews from film critics and it has been able to earn around Rs. 2 million so far. 

Some of the hyped films like Ke Ghar Ke Dera and Mahapurush are scheduled to release amidst Tihar festival.

Ke Ghar Ke Dera directed by Dipendra K. Khanal and starred by Bipin Karki, Dayahang Rai, Surakshya Panta and Barsha Raut is scheduled to be released from October 21. 

Likewise, legendary actors Haribansha Acharya, Madan Krishna Shrestha and Gauri Malla’s Mahapurush is also set to release on October 28. 

While Chakka Panja 4 is prepared to release on Shivaratri. 

Prashamsa Pandey, general manager of Team Quest, said that Nepali films are doing good business in the theaters during this year’s festival season. 

More local moviegoers have visited the halls to enjoy local films than the Bollywood movies this time, she added. 

“People are in holiday mood during festivals and if the content of the film attracts the audience, surely the film will do well in festivals,” said Pandey.

Film distributor Gopal Kaji Kayastha said that filmmakers made films targeting festivals thinking that a large number of audience visit the halls to enjoy the movies, and the producers can secure their investment easily.

Kayastha said that the films of big banners and films with good content do very good business during the festivals.

Normally, only films of big banners get the halls during the festivals.