Festivals regarded best time to release films

By Renuka Dhakal, Kathmandu, Oct. 19: Festivals like Dashain and Tihar are considered the best time for the film release.

Assuming that the audiences are in a fun mood during the festivals,  filmmakers wait for festivals to release their films with the belief that the audience prefers 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 hit the theatre on September 23.

Directed by Santosh Sen and the late Chhetan Gurung, Prem Geet-3 is considered to be the first Indo-Nepali film to be released in 1,200 theatres 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 Paki-stan, the film is expected to earn Rs. 500 million worldwide. Prem Geet-3 will be released in Paki-stan on November 4, said Sen.

Likewise,  Surendra  Poudel directed the 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 an 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 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 since October 14.

This film is also the adaption of the popular teleserial of  1990s Hijo Aaj Ka Kura.

It has been receiving mixed 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 the 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 on October 21.

Likewise, legendary actors Haribansha Acharya, Madan Krishna Shrestha and Gauri Malla’s Mahapurush are 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 theatres 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 a 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 audiences visit the halls to enjoy the movies, and the producers can secure their investment easily.

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

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