Flashback 2067: A quick recap of movies released in 2067

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration calling 2067 a dud year for Nepali Movie Industry. Out of 75 movies released around the nation, only 6 of them were able to place them as commercially successful. Political turmoil, lack of investment oppurtunity, high inflation, bleak security might be some of the reasons for the failure of those movies but the prime and most important one was makers concentrating more on quantity than a quality.

Huge inflow of investors with neither any knowledge of movie making business nor its art was the major reason for constant failure of those movies. Even the big names like Rajesh Hamal, Nikhil Upreti, Rekha Thapa were not able to attract the viewers. Diverse subjects like rom-com, sit-com, action comedies, social drama, and black comedy all smelt the dust this year. Major reason being, makers not knowing what they are doing. They faltered in basics of movie making business right from the script till promotion.

The year began with a week long Maoist Nepal Bandh, when normal were deprived from their basic rights to earn a living by working how can he/she think of entertainment. Investors in the movie must first think properly how they can recover their investment in a country where basic essential commodities has become privilege. Are there enough screens and audience of Nepali Cinema which can guarantee their investment?

Anyway Nepali Cinesansar year began with Kasam Hajurko [Review: 1.0/5.0] starring Rekha Thapa as college student. We quote from our own review;

With wafer-thin storyline, loop holed screenplay and pathetic cinematography, movie like Kasam Hajur Ko is a torture to watch. It can easily be compared to Bollywood’s ‘RGV ki Aag’.

The parade of movies like Kasam Hajur Ko followed week after week, some with new faces and some with old ones. All trying the same trick; comedy, action and romance. Single screens and multiplexes were acting like some ramp where every week new Nepali movie hit the screens with 10-20% occupancy and within next 2-3 days it was taken off to show Hollywood or Hollywood movies.

It was not until mid-august First Love hit the screens and was first movie in the year to taste the success. Inspired from classic Hollywood teenage movie ‘Last American Virgin’, the movie got unexpected opening both within the valley and outside the valley. Despite little criticism from the media, Youth loved the movie. Staring Aryan, Nisha, Karma the youth icons in the industry the movie was far superior both at technical as well as script level from other regular Rekha Thapa brand movies. Following First Love, Nai Nabhannu La starring Jiwan Luitel, Richa Singh Thakuri, Suman Singh also got average success due to its excellent cinematography, music and youth centric theme.

After success of Sano Sansar, Alok Nembang was all geared up for his must awaited Kohi Mero. Starring Aryan, Sanchita, Jharana, etc shot in some of the exotic locales within the country ‘Kohi Mero’ was Alok’s dream project. National Media Pages, online websites, blogs were filled with its pictures, Alok’s interviews, starcast interviews before the release of the movie. Unfortunately Khoi Mero turned out to be Substance without any Soul. The movie bombed at the box office leaving Alok speechless.

Once again foray of movies not worth mentioning hit the marquee. Movies with Rajesh, Rekha, Arunima, Jharana, Rejina came and went.
It was only during Dashain festive season Rekha Thapa‘s rom-com ‘Kasle Choryo Mero Mann’ did some notable business. She even took the movie overseas after making decent profit within national circuit.

Following its success Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang’s ‘Gorkha Paltan’ took nation by storm. For one people identified with the story of soliders as Nepal is reknowned for its soldiers – British Gorkha Army. Secondly, Prashant has become household names not just in Darjeeling, Sikkim but both within Valley and outside the Valley after he won third season of Indian Idol. Both youth and older generation paid homage to this cinema making it this year’s highest grossing movie. Despite its commercial success, the movie didn’t garner any good critical reviews due to its low budget production value. From cinematography to costume, the lack of proper budget was evident on the screen.

Arunima Lamsal’s home production Deepsikha (2010) [Review: 2.0/5.0] released in September also failed to create any wave. Deep Shikha was nothing but a mixed copy of all successful romantic Bollywood movies. Broadly speaking it was only 3-5 movies that tasted some success this year.

The year’s biggest disasters were Manisha Koirala’s comeback movie Dharma. Starring Rajesh Hamal, Manisha Koirala along with bunch of other stars the movie sank at the box office without any trace. Similarly ‘Ek Choti Hasideu Na’ starring biggest media icons – Madan Krishna Shrestha & Hari Bansha Acharya got nearly zero response upon its release. An infotainment movie, entertainment as well as good social message, failed miserably. Another movie from the big banner, Gopi Krishna movies Khusi starring Rekha Thapa too bombed. Legendary filmmaker Tulsi Ghimire’s ‘Desh‘ also didn’t get the kind of reception that was expected. The movie too ultimately failed at the box office. Similarly Sovit Basnet’s ‘Chino‘ didn’t live up to its expectation. Despite Rejina’s never seen before action sequences the collection dropped drastically within a day or two making the movie yet another disaster.

Despite box office failure the year did see some fine experiments like Dashdhunga a thriller based upon Madan Bhandari’s death. Attempt made by singers Yash Kumar & Babu Bogati with ‘Bato Muni Ko Phool‘ was also lauded by the critics and audience alike but due to piracy the movie had to bear loss. The story about aspiring music band – ‘Swor‘ was also appreciated by the youth’s but couldn’t attract enough audience to make it a profitable venture. Also late entry last year, ‘Batch No. 16‘ was also different from the regular rom-coms.

Its sad but the bitter truth with 75 releases, only a handful of movies less than 6 were commercially successful and not more than another 6 could be considered as watch able cinema. If such trend continues, then one day Nepali Cinesansar will be deserted.

With every mistake, the makers should now learn how to make a good cinema, plus know the market even before making such cinema in terms of its return. If they can’t do that then only God can save them from sinking their movies and life. Hope the makers have heard us loud and clear and make few and sensible cinema this year.

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